Oglesby’s newest police officer isn’t new to police work. Scott Nuftul is a lateral transfer from the Spring Valley police department. Lateral transfers are how local police departments are filling positions during a time when few people are showing up to test for them. Many area cities have approved rules allowing their police departments to hire people from other departments.
It used to be normal in small cities for an officer to spend an entire career in the same department rising from patrol officer to higher ranks. Police chiefs could recall their patrol days on the same streets or beats they would assign new officers to. Now they’re often bringing in officers who started at other departments.
Nuftul took the oath as an Oglesby police officer last night.