Dustin Wollenburg is Mower County's newest peace officer.

Wollenburg was sworn-in as a Mower County sheriff's deputy in ceremonies at the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center Tuesday morning.

Wollenburg, 21, is a former Austin Police Department community service officer.

He is the third new deputy sheriff added to the Mower County department this year. Jeff Carlin and Bob Morris were the others.

The retirements of long-time deputies, Sgt. Bruce Sorenson and Stan Rudsenke created two vacancies in the department and the Mower County Board of Commissioners approved Sheriff Barry J. Simonson's request to add another patrol deputy.

With the addition of Wollenburg, the county now has 20 sworn officers.

After Tuesday's swearing-in ceremonies officiated by Sheriff Simonson, the new deputy was introduced to the county board members by Chief Deputy Terese Amazi.

He will complete an extensive training program in the department before being assigned patrol duties in LeRoy, according to Simonson.

Wollenburg's father is a retired Austin Police Department detective. His sister, Debra, is a probation and corrections officer and his mother is director of the Austin Ranch School for the Minnesota's Sheriff's Youth Programs.

Public safety and social work are integral parts of the Wollenburg family. "My dad was a role model for me and it felt very natural to pursue a career in law enforcement," said the new sheriff's deputy. "He's been very supportive of my decision."

The new deputy said his goal is to "do the best job I can" and to make every contact with the public a "positive contact."

His sister, Debra, said the new Wollenburg family peace officer had the support of the family's members "all the way."

His parents believe their son has the "skills to be a great officer."

Wayne Wollenburg spent a year in Bosnia after retiring from his Austin Police Department job in July 1999. He completed a 23-year career in law enforcement.

The father said he has no trepidations about his son following in his law enforcement footsteps. "It was a positive life experience for me," the father said.