Lakeport Police Department welcomes new police officer trainee
- Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Police Department on Tuesday introduced its newest police officer trainee.
Nicholas Steward, a Lake County resident and graduate of Lower Lake High School, is the department’s newest member, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said.
Steward is the latest recruit in a special trainee program the department implemented several years ago that focuses on hiring county residents and sponsoring them in the police academy.
The goal is to retain officers and support the department’s community policing goals.
Rasmussen said Steward served in the California National Guard for seven years following high school.
That military service included a year overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Steward also has worked in the security and forestry industries.
On Tuesday evening, Rasmussen introduced Steward to the Lakeport City Council.
He said Steward will spend three months completing pre-academy training at the Lakeport Police station and then will begin his five-month-long police academy training in January.
Once he's completed the police academy, he’ll have another four months of field training on Lakeprt’s streets, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said it will be next October before Steward’s initial training is complete.
“It shows the massive amount of training we have to put into these positions,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the department is proud to have Steward join them.
Council members congratulated Steward, who said he was very happy to be there.
Councilman Michael Froio asked Steward what name he preferred to go by — Nicholas or Nick.
“Officer Steward,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.
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