Yesterday, the Independence Police Department swore in two new officers at an official ceremony with family and friends, city staff, and elected officials in attendance.
Colton Hiebert wanted a career in law enforcement because of his strong desire to help people. Before joining the Independence Police Department, he worked as a general manager for Best Western in Dallas and Wilsonville. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. Colton is excited to be joining the team and looks forward to making a positive difference in the community.
Kobe Everett was raised in Salem, Oregon, as well as Southern Brazil, where his family served as missionaries. Guided by a life-long desire to pursue law enforcement as a career, Kobe began his professional journey by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Corban University. Kobe served the Corban community by working as an officer for the Corban University Office of Campus Safety, learning first-hand the importance of community policing. Simultaneously, Kobe earned his master’s degree in Public Safety Administration and volunteered with the Independence Police Department as a reserve officer. He enjoys exercise, basketball, and spending time with his friends and family, and is very excited to serve Independence.
During the ceremony, Sergeant Dallas Cole read the police officer code of ethics, and Sergeant Lyle Gilbert read a document titled “What an Officer Is.” Part of the latter read, “As a police officer, you’re expected to be compassionate and gentle, full of wisdom and patience, and possess limitless knowledge, perfect discernment, demonstrate incredible physical skills, an unending amount of energy and endurance, and have the ability to ask all the right questions while knowing all of the answers. This is a career where you possess great responsibility and authority—All while making a real difference in the lives of others.”
Welcome to our team, and congratulations, Officers Hiebert and Everett!
