Wendover used to import its police officers and most of its criminals from out of town until West Wendover Police Chief Burdel Welsh went local in hiring the last two members of the force— Wildcat Tomas Ramirez and Wolverine Joshua Earl.
Ramirez grew up in Wendover and graduated from the Wendover Utah High School. He attended the Western Nevada State Peace Officers Academy where he completed over 700 hours of training to attain the skills needed to be a qualified police officer. Ramirez graduated with his certificate of completion and achieved his basic law enforcement certificate upon employment with the West Wendover Police Department.
Ramirez completed a 14-week field-training program within the police department. This program trains and evaluates the new officers on the police department’s policies and procedures, as well as his performance in the field. Training includes knowledge of laws and how they apply them to the circumstances encountered, report writing, courtroom testimony, crime scene investigations and many other areas.
“I’m proud to represent my Wendover roots and serve the community I am from,” Ramirez said. “I look forward to this opportunity to make our community better and serve as a role model to the young people who grow up in Wendover.”
Joshua Earl started with the West Wendover Police Department on January 20 2012 as a public safety dispatcher. Earl transferred to the patrol division in July of 2014.
Earl grew up in West Wendover and graduated from the West Wendover High School. Earl attended the state of Nevada Peace s Standards and Training academy where he attained the skills needed to be a qualified police . Earl is continuing to gain knowledge and improve his skills through his field training program.
Earl is proud to be able to serve within the community where he grew up. Earl acknowledges the many challenges that s face day to day and is looking forward to a fulfilling career as an for the city of West Wendover.
Ramirez and Earl took their official oath Tuesday during the regular West Wendover City council meeting.
As Wendover natives both Ramirez and Earl have the advantage of knowing the city and its residents intimately and will have a much easier time winning the trust and cooperation from the community.
