Two Shawnee Police Officers sworn in during ceremony

During a formal ceremony Tuesday at city hall, two rookie Shawnee police officers took their official oaths of office to protect and serve the city of Shawnee and its citizens.

Officers Darren Briley and Jake Duggan recited the oath before Municipal Judge Robert H. Jones.

A pinning ceremony for their badges also was held.

Duggan said he's excited about his new job and loves it.

"I couldn't see myself doing anything else," he said.

Shawnee Police Chief Russell Frantz said Briley has been with the city since January 2012 and Duggan, who started in August, just finished the academy on Jan. 4. Duggan is currently in the Field Training Officer program.

Frantz said officers with Shawnee go through a rigorous hiring and training program before they are ever on solo patrols.

Following four months in the academy, each also has to complete four months of field training, the chief said.

"They have eight months of training before they ever hit the streets," the chief said, and each year, officers undergo up to 120 hours of continuing training.

The department is now up to 57 full-time officers on staff, the chief said, which is the most the department has had during Frantz's 29-year tenure with the police department.

"We're proud of that," he said.

Briley graduated from Ada High School and Duggan graduated from Dale High School.