New faces at the Worthington Police Department

• Cops

justine wettschreck/Daily Globe Mark Riley (left) and Joe Joswiac are new patrol officers with the Worthington Police Department. Both started in February and recently completed field training with the department.

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WORTHINGTON — One is from St. Paul, the other is from Round Lake, and according to Worthington Police Captain Chris Dybevick, both are excellent additions to the department.

Joe Joswiac and Mark Riley started working for the Worthington Police Department in February and recently finished their field training with the department. Both are working the night shift, which they said gives them the opportunity to be more proactive as patrol officers.

Joswiac, of St. Paul, attended Iowa Lakes Community College and the University of Sioux Falls, receiving a degree in exercise science before attending Metro State for a law enforcement licensing certificate.

“It’s a program designed for people who already have a four-year degree,” he explained. “It covers statutes, criminal law, criminal procedure — that kind of thing.”

Riley, who grew up in Round Lake, attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College’s law enforcement program. He worked part-time in the Nobles County Jail for three years, which he said gave him the opportunity to get to know many of the officers on the department and the support staff.

“It was a job that I enjoyed, and I got the chance to see the law enforcement side,” Riley stated.

Their favorite part about working in law enforcement is the new challenges they face each day.

“Every day is different,” Joswiac said.

“I also like holding criminals responsible for their actions,” Riley stated. “I don’t like to know that a person has been victimized — it bothers me a lot.”

Because they started together, the two officers have been able to learn together and help each other out as they adjust to their new jobs — a first law enforcement position for each of them.

“It’s a really good department, and I really like the people we work with,” Joswiac said as Riley nodded in agreement.

Working in a rural setting as opposed to a large department suits them each just fine.

“I grew up around here and know a lot of people,” Riley said.

Joswiac said he has lived in St. Paul, Sioux Falls, S.D. and Estherville, Iowa, where the departments are large and officers often don’t know each other.

“To say you know every person on your department — that goes a long way,” he stated. “When you respond to a call, not only do you know who will also show up, but you have a good idea of how they’ll react.”

Dybevick said both officers have done well since the day they started, passing every phase of training without a single problem.

“For young officers, their work has been exemplary,” he added. “We’re glad to have them.”

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