The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Wapello County Sheriff's Office is back up to full staff after the retirement of former sheriff Don Kirkendall last year.

Deputy Clint Neis was officially sworn into duty at the Wapello County Courthouse Monday morning, rounding out the department's nine deputies.

Deputy Neis is originally from Wapello County, but served the past eight in the Lucas County Sheriff's Office, bringing a lot of experience to the table.

"That eight years of experience is going to carry over to Wapello County Sheriff's Office and how I conduct my job over here," Neis said. "I've got eight years of knowledge and experience as being a sheriff's deputy in all aspects of the sheriff's deputy from civil service to jail."

When looking for deputies to join the department, Sheriff Mark Miller said experience is key.

"Enthusiasm. Experience, Deputy Neis has a lot of experience, been a peace officer already for eight years and has got a lot of college, that's not required, but he gave the interview panel a good feel about his abilities, so that's what we're looking for," Sheriff Miller said.

The sheriff also said being short a deputy hasn't affected the office's service of the county at all, but they are glad to be back up to nine deputies once more.