Middle school liaison assigned, new deputy hired

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 30, 2003

Austin Police Department veteran Steve Wald has been assigned the new Ellis Middle School liaison officer's duties

Also, Mark Oakland has joined the Mower County Sheriff's Office ranks as a patrol deputy.

Wald began his new duties Monday. He joined the Austin department 13 years ago and became a popular canine unit officer with his dog, Maddie.

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He and two other applicants were interviewed for the new position being funded, in part, by a Community Oriented Policing federal grant. Austin Public Schools representatives participated in the interview.

The federal grant funds the position for three years after which the city and school district must guarantee funding for a fourth year, Police Chief Paul M. Philipp said.

Travis Heickley has been the Austin High School police liaison officer for the past 10 years.

Heickley's duties at the high school require his full attention, while Wald is expected to also be able to respond to situations at local elementary schools as well as his EMS duties, Philipp said.

He said the department enjoys a "good partnership" with Austin Public Schools.

Philipp also said today's Austin police officers are all "multi-task" city employees trained to perform other valuable skills in addition to their patrol duties.

Philipp called the police liaison program "very successful."

New deputy

Mark Oakland, 27, joined the Mower County Sheriff's Office Monday.

After training, Oakland will be assigned regular patrol duties, probably in LeRoy.

Married and the father of two children, Oakland is a native of Albert Lea, who completed criminal justice studies at Alexandria and worked as a detention officer in the Freeborn County Jail for four years.

Oakland gives the department 20 sworn officers, including the sheriff and chief deputy Mark May, Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi said.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com