Nine new officers finished the academy last week and began their field training this week.  Eight of the nine have at least a bachelor's degree and they all come with interesting and diverse backgrounds.  Here is a little about each one..

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Tyler Bodin grew up in Carlton. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from UMD where he studied Criminology and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. He completed his law enforcement portion at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in 2013. Tyler was a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Carlton for 4 years. He is the first in his family to work in law enforcement. Tyler chose to become a police officer because of his passion for helping others. In his free time he enjoys fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. Tyler would like to thank his Uncle Scott, Aunt Laura, and his girlfriend, Brittany as well as his entire family and friends for their support.    

Sean Fraser grew up in Frazee, MN.  He completed his law enforcement training in Alexandria.  He worked as  a patrol officer for Hibbing Police Department for 6 ½ years prior to being hired with Duluth.  He is the first in his family to work in law enforcement.  He enjoys spending time with his wife Lindsey, his sprainger spaniel Ruger, his family and his friends.  Sean enjoys hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.  He would like to thank his parents, family and friends for their continued support of his carreer.  

Dan Kerfeld grew up in Duluth.  He graduated from UMD where he studied criminology and psychology. He completed his law enforcement portion at Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College in 2010.  He has been involved with the Duluth Police Reserves for the last 4 years.  He is excited for the opportunity to work for the city of Duluth.  Dan enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing with his dogs and being outside.  He would like to thank his wife, parents, family and friends for all their support. 

Pat McCormick was raised in Faribault. Pat knew as a young boy that he wanted to do one of three things when he grew up. Join the military, become a police officer, or become a firefighter. Following graduation from high school Pat enlisted into the Marine Corps and served four and a half years.  He was deployed to Iraq 3 times from 2004-2008 and was awarded the purple heart after being injured by shrapnel.  He then attended school for firefighting and became a wild land firefighter. Discovering firefighting wasn’t for him he went back to school for law enforcement. He attended Mankato State University where he received his bachelors in law enforcement. He completed his skills program through Hibbing Community College the summer of 2013.  Pat enjoys camping, shooting, hunting, fishing, and pretty much any other outdoors activity. He would like to thank everyone who has come to support him today, his parents, family, friends, teachers, and mentors all of which have helped him to be standing up here today. He would also like everyone to know that he is soon to be an uncle!  

Jacob Moldenhauer grew up in Houston, MN. He attended Winona State University where he studied Law Enforcement and graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree. He completed his skills portion at Rochester Community Technical College in 2013. Jacob worked for the State Prison in Faribault, MN for a year and a half prior to being hired by Duluth. He is the first in his family to work in law enforcement. Jacob enjoys running with his dog Dallas, mountain biking, and hanging out with family and friends. He would like to thank his father Steve, mother Arlene, and his brother Ryan for all their support.

Mike Renier grew up in Duluth. He went to Duluth East high school where he played hockey for the Greyhounds. He attended UMD where he studied criminology and sociology and completed his bachelor’s degree. He also completed his associate’s degree in law enforcement at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in 2012. Mike continues to play hockey as much as possible and coaches for the Duluth East JV and varsity teams. He loves the Duluth area and is excited to be working for the community he grew up in. Mike’s dad, Dean, was a police officer for Duluth PD for many years and that’s how his interest in law enforcement was found.  Mike would like to thank his father Dean, mother Amy, brother Luke, and his friends for their support.

 Nick Stauber grew up in Duluth.  He attended the College of St. Scholastica where he studied history, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.95 GPA.   He went back to school at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in 2011 for his degree in law enforcement, and graduated with a 4.0 GPA.  Nick had an interest in law enforcement from an early age, and after riding along with several Duluth officers and seeing first hand the importance of professional police work in a community, decided to make that interest into a career.  Nick enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and spending time with family and friends.  He would like to thank his father Rick, his mother Belinda, his stepfather Todd, and retired Sergeant Dave Greeman. 

 Dan Thorstensen grew up in Hermantown.  He studied law enforcement at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and graduated in 2008, and went on to study criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin Superior and graduated in 2013.  Since he was very young, Dan has been impressed and intrigued by the field of law enforcement and he is the first in his family to become a Police Officer.  Dan loves the Duluth area because of the many year-round outdoor activities that are available, especially fishing and hiking.  Dan would like to thank his parents James and Debra along with his sisters and extended family for their support and encouragement. 

Jeff Webster grew up in Maple Grove, MN. He attended UMD where he studied criminology and geographical information systems. He completed his law enforcement portion at Alexandria Tribal and Community College in the summer of 2013. His passion for law enforcement came to him when he was a kid but decided he would make it his career at the end of his senior year in high school. In the fall of his senior year at UMD, Jeff became an intern with Duluth Police and that is when he realized that he wanted to pursue a career with this department.  He enjoys mountain biking, watersports, snowmobiling and traveling with friends and family. He would like to thank his parents Mike and Kathy as well as his sister Abby and many other friends and family for their continued support throughout his journey.