Troy police officer Frank “Colin” Barnett was trained and certified before hire, and a second new officer, Nathan White, is concluding his field training, making Troy Police Department’s three-officer force whole again.

“I handed him (Barnett) a set of keys and let him go to work,” Troy Police Chief Bob McLeod said. “It was nice.”

John Thrasher, who is serving as White’s field training officer, will be winding down his temporary employment, McLeod said. 

Barnett served as a TPD officer for nearly three years from 2002-05 and also worked on the Libby Police Department for two years. McLeod worked with Barnett for a short time when he became a full-time TPD officer in 2005.

After spending six years as a paramedic and 15 years as a firefighter in Texas, White and his wife moved to Polson last June to be closer to her family. He served as a reserve officer several years ago in Texas and, most recently, for the St. Ignatius Police Department.

White said he applied because he’s too young to retire and he wanted a second career.

“I’ve worked the streets most of my life,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in law enforcement and I’ve always enjoyed my time as a reserve.”