“Diversity should be reassuring to community”
The Town of Highlands Police Department hired Shannon Hansen as a member of its corps of part-time officers on February 11, she’ll become one of three female officers employed by the THPD, Chief Frank Pierri said.
After Pierri noted that to the Town Board, Supervisor Bob Livsey, who had just taken part in six interviews of potential police officers, said the group was “really excellent candidates” who “each brought something different to the table”.
Pierri said the group of interviewees was diverse — one African American, an EMT, one Hispanic, three females and four with prior military service.
He said a goal of his is to employ a Spanish speaking officer, and “hopefully we will soon have one”.
Councilman Tyrone King expressed his appreciation for the diversity of the department.
“This should be reassuring to the community,” he said, “and I believe it speaks volumes about the climate of the organization and its leadership.”
Livsey agreed, saying the current officers, plus candidates for the positions, “really do present a nice cross section of abilities”.
Deputy Supervisor June Gunza, also in on the interviews, called the candidates they’d met “excellent”.
