Cottage Grove welcomed three new officers recently, sworn in Monday, Jan. 27 to protect and serve. The new officers’ names are Ryan Sheak, Tim Gunderson, and Rebecca Dziki. The new officers joined three others in the city’s police academy, these being Ella Haas, Peyton Taylor, and Cole Pfeiffer.
“We are excited to welcome six recruits to our police academy!” Cottage Grove Public Safety said in a statement. “This marks the beginning of an important journey for each recruit as they develop the skills and knowledge to serve and protect with excellence.”
Offering recruits a comprehensive 120 hours of onboarding, Cottage Grove Public Safety training is designed to ensure that recruits are equipped with the tools they need to succeed, including POSAT and OSHA-required training, as well as department policies and procedures and the foundational skills needed for field training.
Also in news from Public Safety, City Administrator Jennifer Levitt and Chief Pete Koerner attended the police reserve monthly meeting. The meeting’s focus was on thanking the reserve officers for their volunteerism and efforts on behalf of the community, stressing their importance as valuable members of the public safety team.
Made up of volunteers who augment and assist the police department in various duties and responsibilities, the Cottage Grove Police Reserve offers an alternative and additional way to give back to the community. Divided into uniformed and non-uniformed officers, qualifications for the Police Reserve include a minimum age of 18 as well as passing a background check and drug screening. Also among qualifications for the Police Reserve are passage of an oral exam and successful completion of the application screening process. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and hold a valid driver’s license. Applications for the Police Reserve can be found on the city website under “Police Reserves,” accessible through internet search for “Cottage Grove Police Reserves.”