New police officer sworn in

Ashley Lopez was officially sworn in as the newest member of the Clear Lake Police Department at Monday night’s City Council meeting.  Lopez, who will leave for the Law Enforcement Academy at Camp Dodge Aug. 22, will graduate Dec. 9.  Upon her return to Clear Lake she will train in the field with other police officers before beginning patrol in January.

Lopez, a 2004 graduate of the Dallas Center-Grimes School District, said she was inspired to go into law enforcement after job shadowing with Des Moines police as part of a high school class requirement.  She rode with officers on an overnight shift.

“It was an active shift in downtown Des Moines.  I was impressed with the way they were able to help the people they came in contact with and left them with a positive impression of police officers,” she said.

Lopez moved to Clear Lake in 2013 when her husband, Iowa State Trooper R.C. Lopez, was transferred to North Iowa.  The couple has two daughters, eight-year-old Jaelan and two-year-old Maya.

Lopez has been working on her Associate of Arts Degree in law enforcement at Des Moines Area Community College.