New Huntingburg police officer sworn in today

A special Huntingburg Board of Public Works meeting was held this morning to swear in a new officer for the Police Department.

Andrew Hammack was sworn in at the City Council Chambers with Police Chief Art Parks and other city officials in attendance. Hammack is originally from Tell City, but served for five years in Ripley County. Parks says that Hammack is getting familiar with the department and going through orientation today. “He’s getting all his gear, police equipment,” Parks said, “and taking the appropriate actions to get ready.”

Hammack will be riding with another department officer for the first few days before getting his own patrol vehicle.

Hammack is a welcome addition to the police department that has been down three officers since the beginning of March. Parks was appointed after Chief Ron Drew announced his retirement and Drew was joined by Detective Bill Wampler, who also retired, and Officer Jeremy Graham, who resigned in March, bringing the department’s ranks down by three.

Parks states he’s eager to get back to ta full slate of officers, “Even when we get back to ten officers, we are still by capita lower than what we should have.”

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