New officers introduced

Alamosa Police Department hired three new officers recently. Pictured, from left to right, are Cody Van Ry, Nick Smith and . Taylor Bertsch. The trio was introduced at the city council meeting Wednesday.

ALAMOSA — The Alamosa Police Department introduced three new officers at Wednesday’s city council meeting. Mayor Ty Coleman commended Chief Ken Anderson for hiring three San Luis Valley natives.

Nick Smith grew up in Center and graduated from the Sangre De Cristo High School. He attended Adams State University before enlisting in the U.S. Army and Colorado National Guard. Smith served six years as an infantryman in the army and he is currently still serving with the Colorado National Guard. Smith started his law enforcement career as a detention deputy for the Rio Grande Sheriff’s Department before attending the Trinidad State Junior College Police Academy. He worked for the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Department for three years, first as a detention deputy and he moved up to a patrol deputy. During his time with the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Department, he became a firearms instructor and a field training officer. Smith is also a firearms instructor with the local police academy. He recently completed his FTO training and is assigned to the Alamosa Police Department patrol division.

Taylor Bertsch grew up in Alamosa and graduated from the Alamosa High School. Once completing high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. She was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp. and once out of the military Bertsch knew she wanted to get into law enforcement. Bertsch wanted to join law enforcement because police officers have always had an impact on her life growing up. Taylor graduated from the Trinidad State Junior College Police Academy in May of 2019. She is also a volunteer firefighter with the Alamosa Fire Department. Bertsch recently completed her FTO training and is assigned to the Alamosa Police Department patrol division.

Cody Van Ry grew up in Alamosa and graduated from the Alamosa High School. Van Ry attended and graduated from Sterling College in Sterling, Kan., with a bachelor’s in sports management, and he also graduated from Adams State University with a master’s degree in sports psychology.

He graduated from the Trinidad State Junior College Police Academy in May of this year. Van Ry worked with the Alamosa Police Department for nine months while attending the police academy as a Community Service Officer.

He is also a volunteer firefighter with the Alamosa Fire Department. Van Ry recently completed his FTO training and is assigned to the Alamosa Police Department patrol division.


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