It was loud, raucous cheers once again outside of Mount Vernon City Hall council chambers after new police officers Morgan Kelley and Monet Roelle were administered the oath of office for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department.

Roelle, a Cornell College student, had previously enlisted with the MVLPD as a reserve officer almost a year ago. When she took that oath of office, her Cornell Ramily had been there to cheer her on.

It was no different Monday, April 20, as Roelle and Kelley both were sworn in as new officers for the police department to a packed audience once more.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department chief, Jason Blinks, said both Roelle and Kelley stood out as they have went through the hiring process as excellent candidates for the police department.

“Monet has been with us as a reserve officer for more than a year now,” Blinks said. “Morgan is studying criminal justice at Kirkwood Community College, and her dad is a former full time police officer with our department. They both show great fire and ready to get after it.”

Both Roelle and Kelley will be attending the police academy training this summer, Kelley attending the academy first and Roelle attending the academy beginning in August.

MVLPD police chief Jason Blinks said this will bring the department closer to being fully staffed. K-9 officer Grom has finally returned to the service and been on a few calls already. Officer Nick Macke returns from the police academy at the end of April.