New officer draws a crowd
By Rae KrugerArticle Photos
MARSHALL - They took up at least one row of chairs at Marshall's city council meeting Monday but they weren't there for an issue.
The nine people who drove about three hours for Monday night's meeting were there to see Marshall's newest police officer, David Engel, get sworn in.
Engel, as are other new police officers, was sworn in during a short ceremony during the council meeting
Other police officers may get their parents or a spouse to attend the ceremony. Few, if any, get nine.
A crowd the size of Engel's is usually found at special assessment hearings or when a controversial permit is sought in a neighborhood.
"We love him," Engel's grandmother Marilyn Swanson said. "We came from Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington..."
Grandma, three uncles, two aunts, mom and dad and a cousin.
Many of whom were crying Monday night.
"I haven't seen my mom cry this much since I took her to 'The Notebook,'" Engel's uncle Rob Swanson said of Marilyn Swanson.
"It makes your eyes water," Marilyn Swanson said of watching Engel take his oath with Marshall Police Officer Jason Buysse. Buysse was in full uniform, Engel in casual dress clothes. Both stood in front of the council
"He's a good kid. We just love him," uncle Don Swanson said.
A well-loved kid who always knew he wanted to a police officer, family members said.
"We always knew he wanted to be a (a police officer)," Marilyn Swanson said.
"We all knew," family members said, almost in unison.
Engel, who appeared very comfortable with the attention, told family members after the swearing he needed to go back to the Law Enforcement Center and "pick up some stuff."
Family members figured they would go eat after that.
"We've been celebrating for a long time," Marilyn Swanson said. "Ever since we heard (he was hired)."
Family support is not just for Engel.
"He has a cousin who is an ice skater," Marilyn Swanson said. "We follow her around, too (when she skates)."
But cousin Kelsey Swanson wasn't skating Monday. She was in Marshall, watching her cousin get sworn in as a police officer.
