The Juneau Police Department welcomed two new officers to its ranks early Wednesday morning.
Sean Imhof and Tyler Reid were sworn in at the JPD station in Lemon Creek by JPD Chief Ed Mercer to a crowd of family, friends and city officials. Mercer welcomed the two new officers to the police force, and promised them the support of their colleagues throughout their career. Imhof and Reid will be the third and fourth officers to join the JPD this year, said Lt. Krag Campbell.
Sean Imhof shakes Chief Ed Mercer’s hand after being sworn into the Juneau Police Department as an officer on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
“Getting four people this year is pretty good,” Campbell said, reflecting that some years the recruitment numbers have been as low as a single officer.
Imhof initially hails from Wasilla, and Reid comes from Tacoma, Washington. The two new officers will attend the police academy in February, which takes about four months, Mercer said. Campbell said that until then, they’ll be knocking out training in-house and working with other officers so that they’ll be ready to assume full duties as soon as possible.
Tyler Reid shakes Chief Ed Mercer’s hand after being sworn into the Juneau Police Department as an officer on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
“We have around 50 officers ,so we always need to add more,” said Rorie Watt, city manager for the City and Borough of Juneau. “We invest a lot in our new officers. It takes a lot of work. We always celebrate that.”
The JPD is still short by roughly eight officers, but Imhof and Reid’s addition to the force is a step in the right direction, Campbell said.
“It’s always an exciting time to add new people,” Campbell said. “They seem like good-hearted people, and that’s the kind of people you want serving the community.”
Officers of the Juneau Police Department pose for a photo with new officers after they were sworn in on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Both Imhof and Reid were excited to be sworn in and serve with the JPD.
“We already got started a month ago,” Reid said. “We’re just enjoying it as much as you can.”
If you’re interested
The Juneau Police Department is always looking for more qualified officers. Prospective officers must be 21 at the time of hire, have a high school diploma or GED, be a citizen or resident alien of the United States, and have a valid Alaska driver’s license by the time of hire, Patti Rumfelt, a civilian employee of the JPD.
Tyler Reid shakes Chief Ed Mercer’s hand after being sworn into the Juneau Police Department as an officer on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Chief Ed Mercer of the Juneau Police Department looks at Tyler Reid after swearing him in on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
