By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The Fairbury Police recently added two new officers to its staff.

Officers Cody Followell and Andrew Hartman graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy December 22 and are currently at the beginning of their 12 weeks of field training with the department.

Followell explains what moved him to become an officer.

“I wanted to get into law enforcement after I did an internship with the conservation police, and I look forward to coming back and being in the community, being a police officer,” Followell said.

Hartman said, as an officer, he’s hoping to make a difference.

“Hopefully, if I can impact one person’s life, then it feels like I did my job. Obviously, I know I’m not going to impact everybody’s lives, but at least if I can at least do one person, that would feel very special,” Hartman said.

Followell, Hartman and Chief Mark Travis were guests on a recent Community Forum, which is available here.