Westfield hires three new police officers

Westfield Police Chief Joel Rush announced the hiring of three new officers.  The officers were officially sworn-in by Chief Rush earlier this year in a ceremony held at the Public Safety Building which was attended by co-workers, family, and friends.

Officers Eric Grimes, Samuel Newlin-Haus and Samuel Dexter Laughlin will spend the next fourteen weeks in the Westfield Police Department’s Field Training and Evaluation Program. The Field Training and Evaluation Process is an extension of the selection process combining on-the-job training with objective performance assessment to ensure that the standards of a competent law enforcement officer are met. At the conclusion of their field training, each officer will be assigned to a squad within the Patrol Division.

Below are their bios:

Eric Grimes, an Indianapolis native, received his Eagle Scout award at age 15. He graduated High School from Culver Military Academy and went on to receive his Bachelor’s of Arts in Criminal Justice from Indiana University. He is a 2007 graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.  Grimes worked for the Indiana University Police Department (Bloomington), as well as a Police Officer for the Town of Culver, Ind. before being hired by the Westfield Police Department.

Samuel is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan where he spent most his life.   In May of 2009, Samuel was awarded a Bachelors of Arts degree from Indiana University with dual majors in Criminal Justice and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.  While at Indiana University he was employed with the Indiana University Police Department and served as a voluntary EMT for the University community.  In his free time Samuel enjoys snowboarding, working out, and traveling. 

Samuel Dexter Laughlin was raised in Plainfield, Indiana and attended Plainfield High School.  Sam attended Indiana University and received a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology in 2007.  Sam also attended Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs and received a Master's in Public Affairs in 2009 with concentrations in Public Management, Policy Analysis and Public Finance.  Before being hired by the Westfield Police Department, Sam graduated from the Indiana University Police Academy and had been working for the Indiana University Police Department in Bloomington since 2008.  In his spare time, Sam enjoys playing tennis, watching movies and exercising.