• Left to right: New police officers Austin Dietz, & Blaine Anderson.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Police recently welcomed two new officers to the department, with a swearing-in ceremony held earlier this week. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Meridian Township Police Department building on Monday, March 12, and welcomed new recruits Austin Dietz, and Blaine Anderson.

The occasion brought together the families of Dietz and Anderson, as well as members of the Meridian Police Department and members of the Meridian Township Board.

To start off the ceremony, Meridian Police Chief Dave Hall reminded the new officers of the meaning and importance of the Meridian Police code of ethics, saying "As a law enforcement officer my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent from deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, act peaceful against violence or disorder and to respect the constitutional rights of all people to liberty, equality and justice."   

Each new officers was sworn in by Meridian Township Clerk Brett Dryfus, and afterwards were given the opportunity to choose who would place their badge onto their uniforms, with Dietz choosing his mother, and Anderson his father, Clawson chief of police, Harry Anderson.