Earlier this month, Hope Hannah, a Bluffton police officer, received a master’s degree in criminal justice with a specialty in forensic science from Ashford University, San Diego, California.

The degree was obtained through online class work. Hannah participated in the May 6 graduation ceremony in California.

She started her master’s program in June 2016, the same year she completed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Franklin University, Columbus.

Hannah joined the Bluffton police department as a part-time officer in August 2007. In 2012 she moved to 30 hours per week and became full-time in 2014.

The Bluffton department is her first law enforcement position, as she graduated from the Apollo Career Center police academy in 2007.

Currently, Hannah is on Bluffton’s first shift. There she works one five-day week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. following a second week of two 12-hour shifts.

She and her husband live in Ada and have four children and one grandchild.