The Jefferson Police Department is back to full strength.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Ogden resident Blayne Sunstrum was approved as the new officer.  The hiring was the result of former Sergeant Nick Sorensen’s transfer to be Jefferson’s building and code official.

Sunstrum graduated from Ogden High School and earned his associate’s degree in criminal justice from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) this past December.  He has been working as a jailer for the Boone County Sheriff’s office since he graduated from DMACC and as a reserve deputy for one and a half years.

Sunstrum tells Raccoon Valley Radio he’s really excited to be with the police department.

“I feel really good about it and it feels like a great group of guys to work with.  I think it’s going to be a great career.”

Sunstrum will be a field training officer until August 31st when he attends the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo.  Chief Dave Morlan describes when Sunstrum will be on full patrol.

“He’ll be gone for two months (at Hawkeye Community College) and then by the 1st of November, he’ll be back on the street and ready to go.”

Sunstrum will be a grade one officer with a $35,552 annual salary.