In December, Patrick Gerhardt became is the newest addition to the Jefferson Police Department.
Growing up in Algona, Gerhardt says that the community size was one of the reasons why he chose to come to Jefferson. He feels that a small town community is perfect for him to begin his law enforcement career. He comments that all kids say they want to be a police officer when they grow up but for him it was always something he wanted to do as a career.
“I wanted to help out in the community and come home every night and be like ‘I made a difference that day in someone’s life. So that’s why I wanted to do it and going to college just solidified that even more.”
After graduating from Simpson College in Indianola with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is past spring, Gerhardt accepted a job with the Jefferson Police Department and was officially hired on December 28th. In March he will start an 8-week training program to become a fully-certified officer at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo which is an approved program through the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
Officer Gerhardt has been with the department for a little over 3 weeks and he is learning the ropes and getting his feet wet with traffic stops or house calls.
“So my main responsibility right now is just absorb as much as I can trying to get familiar with the area and the people and procedures and stuff like that. It’s been quite the adjustment but it’s been going well as far.”
One thing that took him by surprise was having both the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office in the same building. He says it took some getting used to but having both law enforcement agencies in one building is convenient, everyone communicates with each other and helps with cohesiveness.