May 6, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Decatur Police Add Three New Officers
DECATUR - Three new police officers were sworn into the Decatur Police Department today during a ceremony at the Decatur Civic Center, all of which have previous law enforcement experience and two of which military veterans with time spent serving in Iraq.
The new officers are:
- Joseph M. Sawyer
Age: 26
Hometown: Chatham, IL
- Served in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years and another year in the reserves. Deployed to Iraq three times.
- Will graduate May 15, 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois – Springfield.
- Completed an internship with the Illinois State Police Statewide Terrorism & Intelligence Center. - Jennifer R. Sneddon
Age: 23
Hometown: Decatur, IL
- Received an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Richland Community College in 2007.
- Completed a Law Enforcement internship with the Decatur Police Department. - Megan M. Welge
Age: 24
Hometown: Taylorville, IL
- Served in the United States Army for three years as a Military Police Officer and 3 ½ years in the Army Reserves. Deployed to Iraq for one year.
- Currently attends Lincoln Land Community College and is working toward an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice.
The recruits will attend the University of Illinois Police Training Institute for 12 weeks beginning Sunday before being dispatched and each will also have the benefit of the department’s officer advisor program, developed as a mentoring program for new recruits.
For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753.