Three new police officers sworn in
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POLSON – Imagine a job that requires being sprayed in the face with pepper spray or having to stand still while electric barbs are fired into your skin causing temporary paralysis. For law enforcement, it’s part of the training to help officers gain knowledge of the tools they use to protect the public.
Three new police officers knew what to expect as far as training goes and they signed up for the job at the Polson Police Department.
Officer Keith Deetz took an oath to protect the community on Monday, June 27, as a full-time police officer. Officer Cody Doyle was sworn in on Monday, Oct. 17, as a fulltime officer, and Reserve Officer Michael Hingiss is working with the department as a volunteer. Polson Police Chief Wade Nash called them an asset to the community. Officer Deetz was born and raised in Florida. He moved to Polson in 2010. Back in Florida, he liked catching bass so he continued the sport in Montana. According to Deetz, Montana bass fishing is better due to the skill required to catch them — and this state has less mosquitoes. He eventually took eighth place in a Montana bass fishing competition.
Deetz grew up listening to stories about law enforcement from his father, as his dad was once a police officer, and he always wanted to follow in his footsteps. It wasn’t until he finished a degree in mechanics and worked on vehicles for a few years that he decided to follow that dream. “I like helping people,” he said.
Officer Cody Doyle’s name might sound familiar. He grew up in Polson. He was active in sports and worked at the movie theater. His father, Jay Doyle, was once the sheriff for Lake County.
Officer Doyle went to college to get a bachelor’s of science degree in biology. After college, he spent a few years fighting fires with the Nevada Division of Forestry. He was also a forester.
He met his fiancée in Nevada and she asked him to think of the best community-orientated place to raise kids. Doyle said they were living in a big mining town with too many casinos when she asked that question. He said he couldn’t think of a better place for kids than where he grew up, so the couple moved to Polson.
Responding to emergencies was his favorite part about being a firefighter so he applied for the job when he saw an opening with the Polson Police Department.
“I’ve always liked being able to help people with emergencies,” he said. And he said he wanted to make his father proud.
Reserve Officer Michael Hingiss currently works as a full-time dispatcher for Lake County Emergency Communications. He also volunteers for the Polson Rural Fire Department, and he has law enforcement experience. He was sworn in on Monday, Oct. 17, as a volunteer for the police department.
The two new full-time officers, Doyle and Deetz, will go to the police academy in Helena in the next few months, but until then, they are on a training schedule that includes riding along with veteran officers. Deetz said he already received training with the taser.
“You lock up and can’t move,” he said. of being tased. “You can feel it pulse.” He said he doesn’t want to do it again but it was good to learn what it feels like to be hit by a taser, which is also good in court cases if he ever has to defend a choice he made to use the tool.
Officer Deetz said, so far, every day working in the field has been different. “It’s always something new,” he said, which is another thing he likes about the job.
“It’s always changing. That is something I look forward to.”
The two officers have helped with calls involving stolen vehicles, stolen property, animal problems, traffic issues and domestic cases.
“We don’t get called on many drug calls,” Deetz said of the department. He explained that cases involving drugs usually occur as a result of an investigation.
“People don’t call us about drugs. We have to find them.”
The perception of police officers has been a note of contention lately across the nation, and the two officers said they realized that coming into the job. They said the community of Polson is supportive of law enforcement. Not everyone is, they added, but the majority of people are supportive.
“It’s comforting to feel that,” Officer Deetz said.
The two officers will continue training until they go to the academy.
“I look forward to serving the community of Polson and making it a safe place for everyone,” Officer Doyle said.
