The City of New Hampton appears set to return its police department to full staff.
Following an interview Wednesday (08.21), new Police Chief Conrad Rosendahl says they are set to hire Dylan Walleser as a full-time officer, pending City Council approval during their September 3rd meeting. Rosendahl says September 8th is the target start date for Walleser, who is currently an officer with the MarMac Police Department. He also recently graduated from Iowa Law Enforcement Academy on August 16th.
Bringing Walleser on board caps an eventful last five months for the NHPD.
In mid-April, former Police Chief Tim Pederson resigned amid controversy following an off-duty incident. Officer Doug Eagan was named interim chief, but he himself resigned less than two weeks later. Officer Chad McGee was then named interim chief.
A petition with some 600 signatures to get Pederson reinstated was presented to Mayor Steve Geerts and the City Council in early May, but they opted to continue the hiring process. In mid-June, Rosendahl was hired after he spent the five previous years as Police Chief in Lansing. He took over as NHPD Chief July 1st.
In other departmental developments, Officer Cory Frank completed police academy training in May and is now a fully certified peace officer. The City has also hired Mar-Mac Chief of Police Robert Millin and Troy Riehm, a certified officer employed with an emergency medical service, as part-time “on call” officers.
On a side note, Eagan, who was with the NHPD for 16 years, was sworn in Tuesday (08.20) as a member of the Cresco Police Department.
