MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township Police Department welcomed two recently sworn in officers on Monday. Several members of the Township were in attendance of the Swearing-In Ceremony including Trustee Patricia Herring-Jackson, Treasurer Julie Brixie and Supervisor Ronald Styka.

Police Chief David Hall introduced officers Ian Mandernak and Kolby Casiday. Deputy Clerk, Robert Cwiertniewicz, conducted the official swearing-in of both officers.

Mandernak previously served as a Detroit Police Officer and was accompanied by his grandparents and aunt.

Casiday was previously an Ingham County Parks Police Officer as well as an Ingham County Sheriff Corrections Officer. Casiday was accompanied by his parents, sister and girlfriend.

"Across the State, Departments are competing with each other for quality candidates. I am pleased these officers chose to come work for Meridian Township," said Chief Hall.

New officers to the Meridian Township Police Department must go through extensive 16 weeks of training after being sworn in. Training includes reviewing general orders, qualifying at the range, force module training and resist arrest training.

The newly sworn in officers come just weeks after the Meridian Township Police and Fire Protection Millage was approved by Township voters. Mandernak and Casiday put the Township Police Department at a total of 38 full time officers, however they are not hired as a result of millage funding. Meridian Township Police will begin hiring two more officers as part of the Police and Fire Protection Millage beginning January 2018.