La Porte City swears in four police laterals as training begins

La Porte City's Board of Public Works and Safety opened its April 21 meeting by swearing in four lateral hires to the police department. Mayor Dermody presided at the brief ceremony as Chief Drangmeister introduced the new officers and outlined the training plan.

Chief Drangmeister said the hires ' who he named as Victor Sea, Chase Reese, Daniel M (known as DJ M) and Hang Mau ' bring prior experience as jail officers or in corrections. "We're going to be swearing in these laterals," he said, adding that the city will enroll the officers in a condensed 40-hour basic training block followed by additional academy time. The chief said that, with the schedule in place, the new officers are expected to finish training and be operational in late November.

Mayor Dermody congratulated the officers, saying, "Today is about each of you," and urged them to keep safety foremost. The board took no formal vote related to the hires during the ceremony; the swearing-in and photo opportunity were ceremonial and took place before the regular consent and business items.

The city noted it is allotted 46 sworn positions and that, with these additions and two other pending swearing-ins, the department will be at 44 sworn officers. No additional budgetary or personnel actions were recorded in the meeting minutes beyond the ceremonial swearing and the training timeline described by the chief.

The board moved on to routine business after the ceremony.