By Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

Look out speeders; there's another officer on the beat.

Kyle Torgerson is the second traffic enforcement officer in Bonney Lake. He will work opposite shifts from Vince Sainati, the department's first traffic enforcement officer.

Torgerson has been with the Bonney Lake Police Department for seven years, four as a full-time officer and three years before as a reserve officer.

Sainati will continue to patrol with his 1,100 cc BMW motorcycle and Torgerson will work from a patrol car. Along with speed enforcement, the officers will write traffic accident reports.

&#8220This has been a priority of the mayor and City Council,” interim Police Chief Buster McGehee said. &#8220We've received an increase in complaints about speeders from residents and homeowner associations.”

Torgerson said he will write tickets and &#8220educate people and I will go out on the DUI (driving under the influence) emphasis patrol.”

The chief said one officer will work days and one swing shift.

&#8220Adding a second traffic officer has been one of our goals and now we've been able to implement it,” McGehee said.

The force will gain two more officers this week McGehee said.

Nathan Vance comes from the Black Diamond Police Department. He has been an officer for three years.

The second officer is Chad Kiblinger, who worked the past three years for the Sumner Police Department.

The addition of the two officers brings the total force, including the chief, to 27.

McGehee said the department is still looking for a replacement for Lt. Tom Jenkins who retired June 28. Once the lieutenant's position is filled the force will be at full strength.

At full strength of 28, the department will be comprised of three administrative officers, four sergeants and 17 police officers in patrol operations, one detective sergeant and two detectives, and one more detective assigned to the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force in Tacoma.

In September, McGehee said, one officer will be assigned as a school resource officer.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.