There's a New Cop in Town

The Glasgow Police Department has hired a new officer to fill a long-standing vacancy following the retirement of former Chief Bruce Barstad. As The Glasgow Courier reported in an April 15 story, the city police department has hired Zachary Johnson, formerly of Elkton, Md., to fill the vacancy.

Johnson is originally from Delaware. He was born in New Castle and graduated high school – ironically enough - from Glasgow High School in Newark, Del. After graduation, he volunteered as a first responder working for a fire department and as an emergency medical technician for Singerly Fire Company. At that same time he worked as a medical assistant at a local hospital. Prior to becoming a Glasgow officer he worked in the information technology field for a community college in Elkton.

As for becoming a cop, Johnson says it had always interested him as a young child, but that it was his interactions with his school resource officer in Newark that solidified the desire. He said, the officer had helped arrange ride-alongs, taught him how to prepare his resume and – in general – "helped get the process rolling."

Johnson's move to Glasgow, however, was not a spontaneous act. He had been in a long-distance relationship with a local girl for some time and after finding the GPD job decided to apply to be closer to her. He also has an interest in being outdoors, and he looks forward to the opportunities Valley County offers to escape into the wilderness.

"I look forward to connecting with the community," said Johnson, "and helping in ways that not everyone can – or gets – to do."