Sheldon, Iowa — The deadline for submitting applications to become Sheldon’s newest police officer was last Friday, August 14th. Sheldon Police Chief Scott Burtch tells KIWA that, while he’d always like to see more applicants, the department received a fair number of applications during this round of recruiting.
(As above) “Obviously not as many as I would like, but we do have a number of qualified applicants. It looks like we’re around ten applicants total. I would like more, but it looks like we have a good quality.”
Recently the Sheldon City Council voted to ease residency requirements for Sheldon Police Officers. The revised ordinance requires that officers live within 25 miles of the city limits. We asked the Chief if that change made any difference in the number of applications received.
(As above) “I think so, because I can look at a number of them are out of town, so I think that has helped us out.”
Now that the applications have been received, the next steps include a written test and a physical agility test for the applicants. Chief Burtch tells us what happens after that.
(As above) “Then we’ll do background checks, and then schedule the interviews, and then MMPI and medical physician’s visits. And then, hopefully, I’d hope to have somebody by, hopefully November, maybe December…..crossing my fingers.”
The current vacancy on the Sheldon Police Department was created when 30-year veteran Officer Brian Wielenga retired earlier this month.
