SHELBY – Shelby’s police force grew by two earlier this week as a pair of new officers were sworn in by the city.
Sean Nolen and Jordan Swart were officially sworn in by Mayor Steve Schag at the Shelby Justice Center on Wednesday, and each presented their badges by their parents, both retired service members. For Chief Lance Combs, he hopes Wednesday is the start of a long career for both Nolen and Swart.
“We want to make an investment in somebody who’s going to stay here for 25 or 30 years,” Combs said. “We don’t hire people here very often that come and go, to us this is a first start and a final stop. We want all these people that we hire to carry on the foundation that we laid.”
Currently the Shelby Police Department is down four officers and one dispatcher – two officers after Wednesday’s ceremony. Nolen and Swart were chosen after a long hiring process including an internal hiring board within the Shelby Police Department.
Mayor Schag was brought in for final interviews with Nolen and Swart, and also made mention of the sometimes-grueling hiring process.
“Across our city workforce I don’t know if there are any prospective employees more analyzed and scrutinized than police officers, and for just cause,” Schag said. “We’re adding two fine young men to our force, and I expect great things of them to come.”
Schag also took the time to read a poem expressing his support for all those involved in law enforcement in Shelby.
“It’s a difficult, complicated world, and our men are making decisions that have to be made like that,” he said, snapping his fingers. “They deserve our support, prayers and appreciation.”
Combs also noted that there are not many positive parts of law enforcement, alluding to late nights, long hours and lots of suppressed emotions. These factors make celebrations like Wednesday all the more important.
“We are all family, so when we honor these guys and they honor us by joining the department we want everybody to be included, which means now you and your families are included in a much bigger family,” Combs said. “Like most families we’re extraordinarily dysfunctional sometimes, and we have more than weird uncle, but with that comes support.”
For their parts, Shelby’s two newest officers were excited to get to work.
“It was a long process, I appreciate everybody’s patience,” Swart said. “I look forward to working with every one of you, and I promise to do my best, grow in the ranks and be well known in the community as a good officer.”
“I look forward to working with everybody,” added Nolen. “I won’t let you down.”
