HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper swore in new members of the department on Thursday at Stringer Fine Arts Center.
New employees are Animal Shelter Director Michaela Schommer, Animal Shelter Tech Siera Simon, Evidence Technician Clifton Riggs, dispatchers Janelle Allen, Joseph Hermes, Penelope Kaiser, Jessica McLauhlin, Fermina Orosco, Warren Storrie, Taylor Stanley, Kayli Goodheart and Karen Ridgeway.
Also, new officers Logan Corley, Benjamin Smalling and Trevor Stoll were sworn in. K9 Harper also received a formal introduction.
Corley is a Georgia native who was stationed at Fort Riley. Corley served three and a half years as an infantryman deploying twice overseas to multiple countries. He enjoys spending time with his wife and family camping, working out and doing other outdoor activities.
Smalling grew up in Nickerson. He is a 2015 graduate of Nickerson High School and went on to graduate from Hutchinson Community College in 2017 with an associates of science, then transferred to Wichita State University and graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. In his free time he likes to fish and spend time with friends and family.
Stoll was born and raised in Hutchinson. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 2015. His goal with the department is to combat local drug issues and to hopefully serve as a K9 officer one day. In his free time he enjoys hunting, hanging out with friends and going on trips with his fiancé.
Award winners who were unable to be recognized at the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police event were recognized locally.
Gold award winners were Sgt. Josh Long, Ofc. Ricky Garcia, Ofc. Cory Ogburn, Sgt. Garret Leslie, Ofc. Tony Garcia, Ofc. Tim Williams, Ofc. James Sanders, Deputy Jack Trussell and Deputy Eric De La Cruz.
Silver award winners were Sgt. Lance Hirt, Ofc. Matthew Gabrielson and Ofc. John Williams