(KLZA)-- Falls City Council members approved Mayor Shawna Bindles recommendation to hire Kaleb Gilkerson of Falls City and Juan Ramirez of Omaha as new members of the Falls City Police Department when they met September 9.

Both men will need to attend and pass the Law Enforcement Training Academy at Grand Island to become certified law enforcement officers in Nebraska. 

Currently the Falls City Police Department is operating two officers short of capacity which is nine officers.  Gilkerson and Ramirez will begin their training at the Nebraska State Patrol Training Academy in  January.  

Following a public hearing the Council also approved paying the 25 percent match for a USDA Rural Development Grant to purchase car video cameras and body worn cameras for the Police Department.  Sergeant Patrick Stamper is writing the grant application for $59,838 which would require a nearly $15-thousand local match.