New Hannibal Police Officers Welcomed by City Council

The Hannibal City Council witnessed the success of new programs bringing quality candidates and diversity to the Police Department.

Police Chief Lyndell Davis thanked the council Tuesday night for approving changes to  the Police Cadet program in 2012. The changes allowed hiring Cadets at a lower wage in return for the Department picking up the tab for Police Academy training. Davis says this helped attract a wider range of applicants.

Davis introduced two officers that were the first Cadets. Lacey Colborn of Hannibal joined the force in 2013 after attending Hannibal LaGrange University. Colborn graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in Columbia. The second Cadet, Officer Victor Matthews, was hired in May of 2014. He is currently attending Hannibal LaGrange University and served as the Campus Public Safety Officer. Davis says Matthews not only graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in Columbia, he received the Overall Top Recruit Award, beating out 27 others in his class. Matthews is currently completing his Field Training Program, which is about 16 weeks in length.

Retired Hannibal Police Chief Al Higdon was also present and it was revealed he is working with Chief Davis on a Reserve Officer program to enhance campus security at Hannibal LaGrange University. Higdon currently serves as Director of Public Safety at HLGU. He is also now designated as the first HPD Reserve Officer on campus.

The most recent hire is Logan Logsdon from Maywood, Mo. He was hired in August.  Logsdon served 3 years in the US Army and was deployed to Afghanistan. He is also a graduate of the Law Enforcement Academy in Columbia and is completing his 16 week HPD Field Training Program.

Mayor Hark welcomed the new officers and then administered the Oath of Office.