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New officer comes to Fairmont

For better or for worse, family can have a big impact on the way we choose to live our lives. Fortunately for Fairmont’s newest police officer Chelsea Yeager, her family’s impact was nothing but positive. Yeager shares how she was influenced to get into law enforcement and how she came to be in Fairmont.

“Growing up I had an older brother named Joe,” she said. “We would spend every day of the summer over at my grandma and grandpa’s house, and my grandpa always told us he wanted to be a police officer but never got the opportunity. We would always watch police shows and that got me really interested in it.

“By the age of 13, my grandma found an ad in the newspaper about Police Explorers for the city of Anoka. I got into doing that, and my brother was involved as well. I stayed with the program for seven years and I finished out as the captain of the post.”

Yeager said that it was through her time in the program she really got an appreciation for law enforcement officers and what they do.

“Throughout that time I got to learn how to handle calls with the other officers,” she said. “I did a lot of ride-alongs and got to know the community and understand what law enforcement was. I grew into and loved it more every day, every year.”

From there Yeager joined the Anoka Police Reserve Unit for a couple of years, and also got hired as a security officer with the department.

“I loved every minute of it and wanted to pursue it more. I went to North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park [Minnesota], and got my associate’s degree through them. Then I transferred to Hennepin Technical College and got my skill certificate through them.”

As far as coming to Fairmont, Yeager stated she found a position posted online and began to research both the area and the department.

“As I was researching Fairmont, I noticed it was a small community and very community oriented,” she said. “That’s stuff that I like to do, being one on one with the community members and stuff like that. I just really loved how it looked and sounded, and I thought I could get to enjoy the city and the community.

“I also noticed the department seemed very close-knit, like a family,” she continued. “That’s what you want to part of, and I just thought it would be a really great place for me to work, so I figured I would give it a try and apply.”

Yeager’s first official day was October 25, and states that she thoroughly enjoys the area.

“I feel like it was really meant to be. I feel like I’ve settled in well, and the officers and administration have been amazing to me. I already feel like I’m part of a family, I love the people I work with and I love the community.”

Yeager also shared that she is very excited to work for the community and getting to learn more about her new home area, eager to do her best.

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