(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake Police Department will soon be back to full force.
Police Chief Jon Martyr tells KUOO news two new officers will join the force July 29th. They’re Ryan Larson, a Lake Park police officer for about two years who prior to that worked for the Tama County Sheriff’s Office; and Chris Kielman…a former Okoboji police officer who has worked the last two years as a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Word of the hirings come as controversy continues over the recent termination of long-time officer Doug Ricke and the change-in-rank of another officer, Larry Moorehead, who will be retiring from the force later this month.
City officials aren’t commenting on the termination of Ricke, siting confidentiality laws as they pertain to personnel files. Regarding Moorehead, City Attorney Earl Maahs announced at last Tuesday’s city council meeting the position of Captain had been eliminated. Martyr, who was at that meeting, said he felt the position was no longer needed.
