By Halea Franklin, staff writer

By Halea Franklin NEWEST OFFICER: Heath Murray, a 2005 graduate of Linton-Stockton High School, is the newest member of the Linton Police Department. Murray was hired at the department's 10th officer with funds received from a PAM (Police As Mentors) grant.

Thanks to grant money, Heath Murray, a 2005 Linton-Stockton High School graduate, was recently welcomed as the newest member of the Linton Police Department.

Murray, who began as a reserve officer with the department in June, stepped up into a full-time position in mid-October.

Murray is the department's 10th officer, thanks to a PAM (Police As Mentors) grant. The grant is also helping fund a DARE program at Linton-Stockton schools as well as helping put an officer in the schools.

When Murray graduated from Linton-Stockton High School, becoming a police officer wasn't in his future plans.

“I was going to school for nursing - it was a good living, but I knew it wasn't for me. I thought about teaching, and finally it just hit me one day,” Murray said.

So far, Murray is enjoying his job.

“I love it - every single minute of it. I like being in the public. I like wearing the uniform. I like it, because people respect you no matter where you go they recognize police officers,” he said. “Police officers are held to a higher standard, which means you have to watch yourself more, and I like that. I like being held to that standard.”

Not only is Murray working as a full-time officer, but he's also working on his college education.

He's currently attending Ivy Tech in Bloomington studying criminal justice. He'll soon be transferring to Indiana State University to pursue a bachelor's degree in criminology.

When accepting the position, Murray agreed to stay in school.

“I wanted to make sure that he kept and stayed in college at least to finish his first degree that he set out to start. It was just real important to me with this being grant dollars what we're dependent upon that he stay in school,” said LPD Chief Troy Jerrell.

While working as a reserve officer, Jerrell said, Murray donated many hours.

“While he was a reserve, he put in as many hours if not more than some of the full-time guys. That was all donated time, he didn't get paid any for that. He bought, and was eagerly to do, his own gear, leather and firearms to be a reserve,” Jerrell said.

Since being hired as a full-time officer, Jerrell said, nothing has changed.

“He's been just as enthusiastic if not more than what he was as a reserve. He comes out anytime we ask. Anytime we need something, he's more than willing to come in and work and do his part.”

Murray is the son of Brent and Cathy Murray of Linton.