The Iowa City police welcomed a new police officer Monday morning at City Hall during a swearing-in ceremony.

Benjamin Hektoen, 26, was hired to fill a vacancy in the police ranks, according to a city press release. Hektoen is from Fairfield, Iowa, and attended Simpson College in Indianola. He graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 2011, and he has worked as an officer for the Pella police for the past two years, the release said.

Hektoen will complete the Iowa City police field training program before beginning his duties as an officer. He is assigned to Iowa City police badge no. 24, the release said.

by Kristen East