Light sworn in as Washington’s newest police officer

WASHINGTON — When Officer Morgan Light joined the Washington Police Department this week, she brought experience and a history of hands-on youth engagement that matches the department’s ongoing efforts to connect with students and families across the community.

Mayor Millie Youngquist swore Light into her new position Monday, Nov. 17, welcoming her as the department’s seventh officer. Light arrives with 6.5 years of law-enforcement experience in Fairfield and Iowa City and holds certification from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. A native of Montpelier, Indiana, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana Tech.

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Light’s record already reflects the type of outreach WPD prioritizes. In Fairfield, she frequently interacted with young people as she rewarded bike-safety habits, recognized kids for positive actions in parks and schools, and built a reputation as a steady, friendly presence. Fairfield school officials described her as “a friendly face to students in our district.”

Her education, experience and active approach to community relationships align with WPD’s core values, which Police Chief Jim Lester highlighted in a Nov. 18 update to the City Council. Lester reported a month marked by intentional public-education efforts alongside routine policing demands.

Lieutenant Shamus Altenhofen spoke with middle-schoolers about vaping risks, while Officer Mia Brdecka met with WRAP students at Kirkwood to outline her role as an internet Crimes Against Children investigator and stress online-safety awareness for teens.

Brdecka also attended ICAC training for online predators and participated in the Iowa Association of Women Police fall meeting and training. She, Officer Easton Botkins and Lester assisted with domestic-violence training scenarios at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, where Brdecka also helped run sexual-assault scenarios.

Lester said officers handled 581 calls for service in October, including 157 traffic stops, four domestic-violence investigations and five search warrants, and he noted several members of the department completed specialized training in areas such as Drug Recognition Expert recertification, K-9 operations and pursuit-intervention techniques.

Light’s history of meeting children where they are — in parks, on bikes and in classrooms — suggests she will integrate easily into the department’s continued efforts to build early trust and maintain a positive, visible presence throughout the community.

The department encourages residents to greet Light when they see her around town.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com