Winnebago Police Department is almost back to full force and will have officers patrolling the streets soon.
City Administrator Judi Hynes introduced Nathan Goette as the new police chief and full-time officer Darren Bettin at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting.
“I’m so happy about having officers again,” says Hynes.
The police department has been without a full-time officer since September 2023, when former Police Chief Eric Olson resigned to go work for the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department.
Last month, Olson was hired as a part-time officer and has agreed to remain as the city’s interim Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) to help train Goette and Bettin.
Goette will be paid an hourly wage of $40.99 and is scheduled to begin on April 1, while Bettin will earn $31.20 an hour and start on Monday, March 18.
According to the state’s law enforcement POST Board website, the city is advertising a full-time officer position with a salary range of $30.29 to $33.13 an hour.
Hynes did not provide an update at the meeting regarding the search to fill the department’s final vacancy. She also did not respond to a request for comment.
Goette’s latest job was working for the United South Central School District as a resource officer. Prior to that, he was a deputy for Scott County, a police officer and member of the SWAT Team for the city of Shakopee.
Bettin has been working as a part-time officer for the Blue Earth Police Department.
In other personnel business, Muir Library head librarian Nicole Krienke received a favorable annual review and was given a step increase in pay to $31.73 an hour.
Council members are scheduled to interview the lone applicant to fill the vacant council seat held by Jean Anderson at 4:30 p.m. on March 26. Anderson was appointed as mayor when Scott Robertson resigned last month.