(from news release)
Two new police officers (Brittany Hatling, Kyle Salverda) took the oath of office administered by Police Chief Brandon Silgjord at a recent city council meeting, and their hirings mark a first for the department.
Their hirings are a “first” because Salverda and Hatling are both beneficiaries of the new Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training program. That program helps individuals who would like to use their current education and skills to transition into becoming law-enforcement officers. The program helps Minnesota law-enforcement agencies with hiring those kinds of new officers. The Minnesota Legislature created ICPOET to assist agencies experiencing staffing shortfalls due to officers retiring and fewer people choosing to enter the profession.
Forty-six law enforcement agencies in Minnesota, including Sartell, received state-aid funding for the ICPOET program. The agencies have sponsored a total of 94 candidates with two- and four-year degrees who want to make a career transition into law enforcement.
Right after taking the oath of office, two new Sartell police officers join members of the Sartell City Council, where the swearing-in took place. The two new officers are Kyle Salverda (third from left) and Brittany Hatling (fourth from left). The council members (left to right) are Tim Elness, Rustin Deters, Mayor Ryan Fitzthum and Pat Lynch. Not pictured is council member Jed Meyer.
