Spirit Lake Adds Two Police Officers

Spirit Lake’s full-time police force will now number three, due in part to a $14,100 grant from the U.S. Justice Department.

The City Council voted Monday to hire Spirit Lake’s reserve officers, Stuart Miller and Joseph Jovick. They’ve been working part-time for the city since July 1994. They’ll be paid $8 an hour.

“With more officers on, we’re able to be out covering more,” said Jeff Alexander, the city’s police chief and lone officer for most of 1994.

Police calls have risen sharply in Spirit Lake. In February 1994, for example, the city got 64 police calls. This February, there were 228.

The reasons include rapid city growth and the fact that the reserves have helped spot, and stop, more crime. Plus, he said, citizens are more likely to report minor thefts and juvenile vandalism now, knowing they’ll get a quicker response.

Spirit Lake is looking for more unpaid reserve officers, Alexander said. He wants to target domestic disputes and juvenile crime, plus launch a neighborhood watch program.

The chief is also going to try to get the city a second police car. “It’s been a step-by-step process for us,” he said.