The most recent additions to the Warsaw Police Department, Greg Oberlin and Scott D. Whitaker, are serving the community where they grew up.

Oberlin and Whitaker were hired in 1997 with funds obtained through grants from the federal and state governments.

Oberlin, 35, graduated from Ball State University with a degree in psychology. He married Teresa Werstler, and they have two children, Kayla, 5, and Justin, 19 months.

Oberlin, who has always lived in the Warsaw area, worked at the Sprint Distribution Center for 10 years.

Although he got a late start on his career in policing, Oberlin said, "I knew I always wanted to do this, and the timing worked out."

Oberlin said his wife grew up knowing what she had to live with to be a policeman's wife and the hours they would have put up with. His father-in-law is retired Warsaw police officer Eldon Werstler.

Oberlin said he turned in his application to join the force, then waited a year before he turned in another one. The applications were screened and applicants took a written test and a physical agility test. The police then did a thorough background check on the applicants and they took a polygraph test. Finally, the applicants went through an interview with a board of officers.

The remaining hopefuls were ranked and hired accordingly.

Oberlin said he feels fortunate to have been hired on Jan. 4, his first time through the process.

After being hired, the new officer goes through three months of field training before he is put on his own patrol. "They gradually loosen the reins, but they keep an eye on you," Oberlin said.

He will be sent to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield for a 12-week course beginning in January. The course is a requirement for full-time officers in their first year with the force.

After one year, the officer is taken off probation and gets the full patrolman's rank and pay. The board who interviews the officer after the academy decides if the officer should be made a full-fledged officer.

Oberlin is on the patrol division, stopping traffic violators and investigating suspicious activities. He answers calls that come in to dispatch, and patrols one of the two divisions of the city of Warsaw. Oberlin usually works on the second shift.

Whitaker, 25, is the son of William and Lora Whitaker. He graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1991 and went to the University of Nebraska-Omaha on a football scholarship. He was a linebacker for the NCAA Division II ranked school.

He graduated in December 1995 with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a minor in education.

Whitaker worked in Nebraska until he moved back to Warsaw when he was hired in August 1996 by Wawasee Community Schools. Whitaker was the alternative school director and drug awareness coordinator for the schools, as well as the assistant varsity football coach.

Whitaker said he applied to the Warsaw Police Department in 1996 - even before he moved back to the area - because he wanted to come back to Warsaw to work.

Whitaker is training on the third shift with Al Dials. He will be trained by different field officers on all three shifts to learn the fine points of the responsibilities on each shift.

Whitaker began the job with the Warsaw police Sept. 13 and will be on probation for one year, although his field training will end in December. He will attend the 12-week academy training with Oberlin beginning Jan. 5.

Whitaker said he looks forward to a lengthy career in Warsaw and said he feels fortunate the position on the force was open because of the grant money. [[In-content Ad]]