The Winfield Town Council swore in veteran Police Officer Jesus “Jesse” Vargas as its newest hire on the Winfield Police Department.
“Welcome home,” Town Councilman Tim Clayton, R-at-large, told Vargas.
“I look forward to working in Winfield,” Vargas responded.
Vargas, a Winfield resident, was hired by the Winfield Police Department on Tuesday following his retirement from the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, where he served for 29 years in the SWAT Team, K-9 unit, motorcycle, drug interdiction and aviation units.
Vargas, a 19-year veteran of the United States Army Reserves, where he still serves, also worked as a field training officer for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Winfield Town Marshal Robert Byrd said.
Vargas, who came to the meeting with his wife, Amanda, and children Vio and Delina, was sworn into office by Winfield Clerk-Treasurer Michael Lambert.
Vargas began working for the Winfield Police Department on Jan. 5 as the department’s 10th officer.
The Winfield Police Department was started in September 2014. The Town of Winfield was previously served by the Lake County Police Department.
The town, formed in 1993, is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state, according to Veridus Group, an Indianapolis-based company hired by the Town Council to draft a new comprehensive master plan.
The department currently has 10 full-time police officers and four part-time police officers and is hoping to hire more officers in the near future, Byrd said.
In other business, the town council:
•Approved an ordinance approving the hiring of a full-time town payroll clerk and a street department mechanic, initially part-time.
•Approved consideration of engagement with DLZ for right-of-way services for Randolph Street and the 117th roundabout.
•Approved a $414,731 reduction of the Grand Ridge Phase 3 performance bond.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
