WARTBURG — Mike Cox was named the new chief of police at the Wartburg City Council meeting in August.

Cox has acted as interim chief of police since November 2023 when Chief Earl “Teddy” Bales retired after 47 years. Following Bales’ retirement Cox was the only officer in the city.

In the past nine months Cox has helped the department grow. They have hired four new officers and used grant funds to update the Police Department’s equipment. They’ve also made an effort to be more visible in the community.

“I’ve applied for a grant to try to hire another officer,” Cox said.

“I’ve applied for a lot of grants this year. Last year I was awarded a $51,000 grant and another $25,000 grant to buy equipment for officers.”

The Wartburg Police Department also acquired a drug testing machine so they can handle some of the work in-house instead of always relying on the crime lab.

“We can test for drugs right here, for safety purposes for our officers. That’s one thing I’ve implemented,” Cox said. “When we run into fentanyl and stuff, we have a machine now that can scan through packages and tell exactly what it is, for officer safety.”

The department has also begun using new body cameras and used grant funds to put laptops in the police vehicles.

Cox said people can expect to see Wartburg’s officers at public events in the city and out in the community more.

“We’re going to be more community oriented, and working with the community out in the public. I’m encouraging the officers to be stopping by businesses and talking to people,” Cox said. “We’re going out in the community more, seeing the kids and stopping and talking to the kids.”