The Pella Police Department has announced Senior Officer Matt Huston has been appointed as the new Criminal Investigations Detective, and Officer JR Pearson has been appointed our new School Resource Officer.

Detective Matt Huston has been with the department since 2003 when he started as a reserve officer and was later hired as a full time officer in 2004. Huston is a field training officer, certified defensive tactics instructor, OC and chemical munitions instructor, is a member of the department’s tactical team, and is currently finishing his EMT certification.

Pearson has been in law enforcement for 36 years, and spent much of his career with the Iowa State Patrol and joined the Pella PD in 2019. Pearson is looking forward to working with the students and faculty at local schools.

The Pella Police Department has additional promotions to announce after Chief Shane McSheehy proposed a department restructuring that was approved by the Pella City Council.