2008 Woodie Awards
New job, big change for city's new police officers
Officers bring small-town, big-time experiences to Charleston's force
Cathy Bayer/Police and Courts Reporter
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
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Ryan Feder, 28, spent three years as an officer in Lebanon, a small town of about 4,000 residents and only 12 officers.
Brett Compton, 23, was certified in Decatur where the department has 164 officers for about 80,000 residents.
Both men look forward to helping fill Charleston's force, as its 31st and 32nd officers, but the department still has one position to fill.
Compton and Feder were sworn in Friday at the City Hall Council Chambers in front of about 15 people including Mayor John Inyart and interim police Chief Mark Jenkins.
They replace Carl Daniel, who recently retired from the department, and Brent Butler, who took a position at the Coles County Sheriff's Department as chief deputy.
The department chooses officers from two lists - tested and experienced. To be on the experienced list, an officer must have at least two years experience and be state certified.
Then an advisory panel, which includes Jenkins, rates applicants and makes recommendations to the city's Police and Fire Board.
Feder, from the experienced list, was the panel's top choice. He applied to join the department in August 2006, he said, but the department wasn't hiring. His fiancée works as an optometrist in Charleston, so he'd been looking to move to the area for a while.
Besides his experience in Lebanon, Feder has another two and a half years experience in Okawville.
Coming to Charleston will be a big jump for Feder, but he said he's ready for the change.
He's living with his future in-laws until he finds a house, and a wedding isn't too much further away.
The Belleville native welcomes the change of pace, which includes the new job he starts today. Part of the draw to police work comes from the fact no two days are exactly the same, he said.
Charleston has more resources and a university that makes up much of the city, he said comparing the city to Lebanon.
Compton, on the other hand, looks forward to Charleston's slower pace compared to Decatur. He's anticipating a lighter call load and being able to spend more time on each call.
The Shelbyville native was hired from the tested list. He worked for about nine months as a community service officer in Charleston, and left to join the Decatur Police Department. Compton was anxious to come back to Charleston, where he begins work Tuesday.
"There's a much better opportunity here, I think," he said.
Compton attended Eastern and would like to go back to finish his degree in business management. His fiancée also has ties to Coles County; she works in Mattoon.
As a student and community service officer, Compton became familiar with Charleston's streets, as well as the university and the department.
"It's a good-size city to be a police officer," he said. Enough happens to stay busy, but there's less crime and fewer calls, he said.
Compton, who impressed Jenkins as a community service officer, becomes the first community service officer to be hired as a city police officer.
"He was a logical choice," Jenkins said.
Both officers are in the field-training program, where new officers ride along with a more experienced officer.
While neither officer has family in the police force, it's something they have a passion for and are proud to do.
"It's a very rewarding career," Compton said.
Cathy Bayer can be reached at 581-7943 or clbayer@eiu.edu.
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