Village rehires former officer to help fill KDPS ranks

KALKASKA – For a second time, a former Lewiston resident will help fill the Kalkaska Department of Public Safety roster.

Officials with the Village of Kalkaska recently announced the hiring, or rehiring, of 24-year-old officer Cole Nagy, a former resident of the Lewiston area.

Nagy was first hired by the KDPS in 2016 and served the village for two years before moving to Florida in May 2018. That included a short stint as a K-9 officer with his German shepherd, Spencer.

And, according to KDPS Sgt. Aaron Popa, Nagy returned to duty in Kalkaska just over a year later on June 17.

“We are very excited to have Cole back with our department and he is a tremendous asset to the Village of Kalkaska and the area law enforcement community,” Popa said.

Popa noted that Nagy was an obvious choice to fill the vacancy and serve as one of the department’s two patrol officers, considering his previous experience.

“Cole is already trained and knows our town and our procedures,” Popa added. “We also had his uniforms and vest so there was a savings to the village.”

However, while Nagy will be returning to duty, Spencer won’t be joining him, at least not as an officer.

“Unfortunately,” Nagy said.

Still, KDPS officials haven’t ruled out the addition of a K-9 unit at some point in the future.

“Spencer is not going to be used but we are looking at purchasing a dog and looking for grants and/or donations,” Popa said.

Nagy’s hiring comes at an opportune time for the KDPS, with Popa having been the village’s lone certified officer at times. The department’s other officer, Kylie Argyle, had been recalled to active duty as a member of the Michigan National Guard and posted overseas, and isn’t expected to return until February 2020.

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