The Waverly Police Department added a new police officer on Monday, Dec. 23, as Mayor Mark Anderson conducted the swearing in of the 17th sworn officer to the city police roster.
Clayton Werkman took the oath of office in front of his wife, three children and other family members inside Waverly City Hall during a short ceremony on Monday morning. He will now head to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Des Moines for 16 weeks of training before returning to Waverly to begin patrol duties.
A former special education teacher for more than 10 years in three different school districts across the state — including at Waverly-Shell Rock — Werkman said he opted to become a police officer for a simple reason.
“I wanted to have an opportunity to serve my community in a broader sense,†he said after he was sworn in.
Aside from Anderson, other city officials were present, including City Administrator James Bronner, Chief of Police Richard Pursell and other members of the department.
Pursell said he was excited to have Werkman join the police force, an addition that takes the department to 17 full-time sworn law enforcement officers.
Werkman is familiar with the region. He is a 2009 graduate of Waverly-Shell Rock High School. According to an email from Pursell, Werkman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Wartburg College in 2013. He also earned a Special Education Endorsement from Morningside University in 2020.
