CLEVELAND — A University Circle Police officer is being called the animal whisperer, after her police chief found out she’s been feeding squirrels while on duty.

Kelly Gabriel has been a police officer for 27 years.

"My mom always had the Wickliffe police department scanner going so her friends all insist that’s what instilled it in me I guess," she said.

She said it hasn't been the easiest journey, with the sometimes negative public perception of law enforcement. 

"Hopefully my squirrels cooperate with me today. I like to come out here and feed my guys, usually get between eight and 10 of them, and they follow me around," she said.

Gabriel was feeding the squirrels and said she does it almost every day during her shift, and said it’s therapeutic and has helped her connect with nature.

"I like animals; it's my stress breaker for the day I guess you could say. I love coming out here. It’s a great way you know stuff is going on or whatever with work, and I can just come out here relax and hang out with my squirrels for a few minutes," she said.

Gabriel has also been rescuing animals while on the job.

"There is this heron that is not moving and we realized a big turtle had its leg. I actually ended up taking my shoes and socks and rolling my pants up, I walked up there and it scared the heron enough that it was able to free itself from the turtle," she said.

She's earned the nickname "the animal whisperer" in the community, something Chief Tom Wetzell started calling her.

"She’s got a natural connection with these animals in our community here — it’s not just squirrels. It's turtles, it's ducks. We kind of gave her that nickname out of a term of endearment and affection because she clearly cares about not only her two-legged customers but her four-legged ones as well," he said.

Gabriel said connecting with nature has given her the opportunity to connect with people walking by, and she will continue to give back to nature as long as she’s alive.