Fergus Falls council swears in officer Samantha Wendt; council honors outgoing staffer Jill Hansen

The Fergus Falls City Council held a personnel‑focused portion of its July 20 meeting to recognize staff changes. The council adopted a resolution accepting the retirement of Jill Hansen, noting her hire date of March 29, 2012, and thanking her for 14 years of service supporting the port authority, community development functions and multiple commissions. A council member (Clara) praised Hansen’s attention to detail and leadership.

Later in the meeting the council conducted a swearing‑in ceremony for a new police officer introduced as Samantha. The officer recited the oath of office and was formally welcomed by a police department official who described her recruitment path — from a community college career fair and a multi‑member interview panel to completion of the background check, physical agility test, medical and psychological clearances and Minnesota POST certification steps. The official described the new officer as a “generational talent” and said she will receive field training with Fergus Falls officers.

Why it matters: Personnel changes affect departmental capacity and institutional knowledge—Hansen’s retirement creates a vacancy in community development administration while the police hire restores gender diversity to the department, which officials noted had not had a female officer since November 2022.

Next steps: The city will post or fill Hansen’s position per regular hiring procedures; the new officer will begin field training.

Quotes: “She has been my veil person... she checks my math for me,” Clara said of Jill Hansen. A police department official said of the new officer, “She has a burning relentless desire to make her family proud and make a name for herself.”

Provenance: The retirement resolution, praise from colleagues, the swearing‑in and staff remarks appear in the meeting transcript.