Two new Johnston Police officers were sworn in by Mayor Paula Dierenfeld on Monday, March 5, 2018 during the City Council meeting. The Johnston Police Department is proud to have Officer Samuel (Sam) Abell and Officer Jodi Goodwin as a part of their dedicated staff to ensure the community is kept safe.
Sam has been an Iowa certified police officer since 2013 and previously worked for the City of Creston Police Department. Officer Abell is a standardized field sobriety instructor and field training officer. He is excited to be a part of the Johnston team to continue building upon his career while being part of an organization focused on community policing and citizen engagement. Sam is a graduate of Buena Vista University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Jodi has been an Iowa certified police officer since 2005 and was previously employed with the City of Ottumwa Police Department. Officer Goodwin is a trained hostage negotiator, field training officer, and experienced criminal investigator who has served with a regional drug task force. She is excited to be a member of the Johnston Police Department that focuses on multi-disciplinary team building and embraces community collaboration. Jodi is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology.
“We are excited to have Officers Abell and Goodwin as members of our dedicated team,” said Police Chief Dennis McDaniel. “Each member of our team is focused on community policing efforts while ensuring the safety of those within our city. The department offers a wide array of career development opportunities and we look forward to seeing our new officers grow as they advance within the department.”