Three new officers will soon be on the streets serving and protecting the community for the Columbus Police Department.

Steven Zarate, Michael Klee and Anthony Wielgus are well on their way. Klee and Wielgus earlier this month (December 2024) graduated the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center Basic Academy, while Zarate was submitted by Mayor Jim Bulkley for conditional appointment to the Columbus City Council during its regular meeting on Dec. 16, 2024. Currently a deputy sheriff for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Zarate was not present for the meeting because he was working for Polk County as he finishes his time there.

Zarate, who is bilingual, brings with him years of experience. A graduate of Norfolk High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Wayne State College. He has also spent time as a corrections officer and security officer.

Columbus Police Chief Chuck Sherer said Zarate’s experience is a bonus.

“He can he hit the ground running and jump right into field training,” Sherer said. “He has already got the basic training, now we just have to fine tune. He's learning how we do things and he's learning our computer system. He's learning the community … He’ll pick it up quickly.”

The police chief also noted it was of great value adding someone who will be the department’s fourth bilingual officer (Zarate is also fluent in Spanish) on duty as Columbus has continued to grow more diverse in recent years.

“Because Columbus is diverse, I think it's important for us to have individuals on the department that can relate to those ethnic groups,” Sherer said.

“I think it instills confidence and their trust of the police department when they're getting somebody that can speak to them in their language and they can provide straightforward answers to their concerns, where if they're speaking with somebody who doesn't necessarily speak Spanish, sometimes that can get convoluted. So having that, it is as a plus for the department.”

Zarate will begin going through CPD’s field training program in January 2025 right around the same time as Officer Klee and Wielgus.

Klee and Wielgus are coming off a big week after graduating from the Basic Academy in Grand Island. Klee, the former longtime Columbus Middle School Band director, was named “Outstanding Class Leader” during the ceremony. Wielgus was recognized as a legacy officer during the ceremony, as his grandfather served at CPD from 1971-1987.

Sherer said he had no doubt Klee and Wielgus are going to be great additions to the team like Zarate.

“(All three of them) are going to be doing field training, so they’re going to hit the streets all about the same time. And being short-staffed, that’s huge,” Sherer said. “We’re very excited for them.”

Klee and Wielgus have wasted no time spending time with their community since graduating as the two were on hand for the City’s annual Holiday Parade on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, helping CPD “Stuff the Cruiser” with toys and gifts for those in need.