The Pilot News - New officer not so new to law enforcement

“I was a reserve officer for seven years and a full-time officer for three,” the 37-year-old said. “I lived in Nappanee all my life until 2000 when I went to Wakarusa.”
When Geiger’s life changed — he divorced and was given custody of his son — his work schedule became an issue, thus a job change was necessary to better fit his family lifestyle.
He went to work for Newmar Corp. (an RV manufacturer) until they laid him off — along with the other 160 or so employee — in July.
He heard from a family friend that Bourbon was looking to hire another officer and decided to apply even though he wasn’t a resident.
As far as his moving his wife of seven years (Jama), two step-sons and son to the area he said, “I don’t want to move my son around; I want him to finish high school where he is; then we’ll see.”
By the end of the month Geiger plans to have all his review training completed so he can work on his own. He said he was excited to begin working in Bourbon.
   “I have to be trained to this specific department,” he explained. “The hardest part is going to be getting to know the community. I loved being a police officer and I’m very self-confident in doing the job—it will just be a matter of knowing how to relate to the different people and situations here.”
   “The only major difference is that I won’t be working with a partner,” Geiger explained. “After I left (Nappanee) people came up to me and wanted to know why I had left, what I was doing. You know you were doing something right (as a police officer) when they ask about you.”
Geiger said he had always wanted to be involved in law enforcement and that he was influenced at a young age by listening to stories told by family friend and former Nappanee Police Officer Butch Nail, who was shot and killed in 1988 in the line of duty.
Saying “inside, it’s who I am,” Geiger added that he always wanted to get back into the career category. “I like to keep busy,” he said. “I try to be more proactive rather than reactive.”
His attitude of not wanting to wait for matters to be called to his attention may have been a factor in his being hired over the 24 persons who had applied for the position. After Bourbon Police Chief John West filed down that number to 10, he and his fellow officers eliminated the possibilities to six, leaving the final decision to the Bourbon Town Council members (Larry Wattenbarger, Tim Perkins and Gary Collins).
   In a previous interview, West said the reasoning for asking the other policemen to look over the applicants was a simple one.
“They’ll be working with him or her long after I’m gone,” he said.
   Geiger passed a series of tests in addition to the state requirements to acquire the position such as a polygraph test, home interview, reference checks, written examinations and agility tests.
“I think he’ll do a good job for us,” West added after Geiger was sworn in by town Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger.