Two new hires at the Pella Police Department have completed a major milestone in their training.

Pella Police Chief Robert Bokinsky tells KNIA/KRLS News Officers Andrew Shinkle and Devin Mandi both graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy among the highest in their class.

“Our hiring process is very robust,and that was the first obstacle they had to get through, and they performed very well, and we are very confident with them as hires,” Bokinsky says.

He says both are starting field training this week with officers and lieutenants for up to eleven weeks before they become full-time on the police force. Bokinsky says once Shinkle and Mandi are fully implemented, the process will begin to promote a new lieutenant from within to bolster the ranks of supervisors on staff.