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A member of the Pella Police Department for two decades is now higher up on the leadership team. Shawn Veenstra was announced to be a new lieutenant in the service this week. Veenstra started with the Police Department in 2004 and has held many positions throughout his career, including a patrol officer, narcotics detective, field training officer, firearms instructor, and creator of the Citizens Police Academy that morphed into the Citizens Public Safety Academy. Veenstra was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2020 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant this month, replacing the retiring Dave Beukelman.