Oran aldermen review police applicants

ORAN, Mo. -- The city of Oran will have a new police force next month.

At its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, the Oran Board of Aldermen screened 13 applicants for its police force during a closed session following the regular open meeting.

Mayor Tom Urhahn and the town's eight aldermen spent roughly an hour behind closed doors, discussing the applications.

Oran has been without a police force since Nov. 7 when then-chief Marc Tragesser and two other full-time officers submitted their resignations. Since that time the Scott County Sheriff's Department has patrolled and responded to calls in the town. Sheriff Rick Walter reports only a few minor incidents have occurred in the city since being without in-house police.

Urhahn said the full board will interview an undisclosed number of candidates in a closed session following the board's Jan. 9 meeting. Only those candidates who passed Tuesday night's initial screening will be interviewed.

An official hiring decision will then be made.

Until that time the sheriff's department will continue to handle law enforcement within the city limits.