New LPD officer's dream becomes reality

By Timberly Ferree NEW OFFICER: Nick Yingling recently joined the ranks of the Linton Police Department. He started Sept. 1 after spending time with the Linton Fire Department. [Order this photo]

Nick Yingling recently joined the ranks of the Linton Police Department after spending some time with the Linton Fire Department.

Yingling started Sept. 1 and is currently learning the ropes.

"It's still a learning process. But I'm doing fine. (LPD Officer) Chad Crynes is my training officer. He's doing a great job. He's a great teacher," Yingling explained.

Yingling's wanted to be a police officer since he was a young boy. He grew up with a father who was a reserve officer.

He also has previous law enforcement experience as a reserve officer.

"I was a reserve in Bloomfield for two years," Yingling explained.

He hopes to remain an officer at the LPD for several years.

"He (Yingling) was previously employed with the (Linton) fire department and has recently moved over to the (Linton) police department," Linton Police Chief Troy Jerrell said. "We did a swap. Jayson Smith went to the fire and Nick (Yingling) came to the police."

So, it's not additional manpower it's more like a trade.

"He has a law enforcement training background and has been through basic prior to coming to us. We sent him through basic again," Jerrell said. "He also has experience and has trained as a police officer. At one time he was going to be a reserve here."

So far, all is well with the new officer.

"He's expressed to me that his heart's always been in law enforcement. So far, he's done a really good job for us and we think we'll have good things come from him," Jerrell said.

Yingling resides in Linton with his wife Jerisa Yingling.