New police officer begins work in Decorah

New police officer Scott Jennings, City Clerk Wanda Hemesath, who administered his oath of office, and Decorah Police Chief Bill Nixon

There's a new officer at the Decorah Police Department.

Scott Jennings was officially sworn in to his new job on Monday night.  Jennings has worked in law enforcement in Kansas and in Maine.  However, he is a native of Johnston, Iowa and he and his wife, Chandra, are Luther College graduates.

Jennings has been hired because the Decorah City council put money in this year's city budget for the hiring of a 13th officer--a move requested by Police Chief Bill Nixon, so that there would always be at least two officers working on every shift.