MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township's newest member of the force, Officer Aaron McConaughy was recently sworn into the Township Police Department. Several members of the Township were in attendance including Police Chief David Hall, Clerk Brett Dreyfus, and Township Trustee Milton Scales.

Chief Hall began the ceremony with remarks about McConaughy's educational background and allowed McConaughy to introduce the people who came to support him including his mother, father, step-father and co-worker.

Clerk Dreyfus then approached the podium and provided a bit of history on the service of police officers through the years. He ended his presentation with the official swearing-in of McConaughy and issued his official Meridian Township Police Department badge.

McConaughy graduated from Orchard View High School in Muskegon. While in high school he went to Muskegon Area Career Center. He went to Muskegon Community College and eventually went on to Ferris State University. He worked for Muskegon Township Police Department and the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department at the same time before coming to Meridian.

Though, with a good group of departments under his belt, McConaughy feels that Meridian will be a great fit for him.

"It's good to be with a nice department that has good values and they also provide a family feeling that some other departments don't provide," he said after his ceremony.

McConaughy hopes to extend his service beyond assisting with complaints and calls by participating in community service as well.