Two new officers join MP State Patrol post

Staff Writer

      The Iowa State Patrol in Mt. Pleasant has two new officers. The new sergeants, Sgt. Russell Morey, 36 and Sgt. Dean Jalas, 32, are transfers from other areas, Morey from Bloomfield and Jalas from Macomb, Ill.

      The sergeants, who have been in Mt. Pleasant for only a few weeks, said the transfer has gone relatively smoothly although their wives and children are still in the process of moving.

      Jalas and his wife, Jennifer, have three children, Caleb, 6, Haley, 4, Abby, 19 months, and another baby due in March. For the time being, Jalas is staying in Mt. Pleasant and visiting his family on the weekends. "My wife has the hardest job," he said. "I'm glad I get to go to work," he laughs.

      Morey commutes to Bloomfield daily at least until he and his wife, Becky, can sell their home there. They have two children, Christian, 9, and Joshua, 7. The boys are looking forward to the move he said. "Their mom has them pumped up," he added.

      Both Jalas and Morey said they have wanted to be troopers since they were little boys. "I've always wanted to be State Patrol," said Morey.

      "It's kind of been a life long dream," added Jalas. "You have to love it to stick with it." Thinking for a moment he said, "You never know what's going to happen."

'      Yeah, it's exciting," said Morey.

      But even more than the constant variety of not knowing what is going to happen next, the troopers said they like feeling they are doing something worthwhile.

      "There's a purpose behind it," said Morey.

      They said they have helped many motorists on the road, changing tires or being the first to arrive at the scene of an accident and they enjoy the interaction with the public. "Most of the time you get respect. You do it because you want to help," said Morey.

      Nodding his head in agreement Jalas added, "We do a lot more than write tickets."