GULF SHORES, Ala. – Two new police officers were recently sworn in in Gulf Shores and will begin service with the city.

“Several months ago we applied for a community policing grant and that was to pay the salary and benefits of two police officers for a period of three years,” Police Chief Edward Delmore said. “Tonight we are swearing in those two. They went through a very difficult process competing with 107 other candidates. Leah Carpenter and Josh Gullege are our new officers.”

According to a bio read at the council meeting, Carpenter was born in North Carolina, but grew up and went to college in Omaha, Neb.

She graduated in December of 2010 with a bachelor’s of science in criminology and criminal justice. Leah plans to complete her masters from the University of Nebraska in two years.

Gullege was born in Foley and raised in Baldwin County and a 2005 graduate of Robertsdale High School.

He studied criminal justice at Troy University and was a patrolman in Demopolis for two years where he was on the special response team and in the honor guard.  He graduated SWAT school in February.

“Great examples of young leadership in both of these individuals and great resumes,” Mayor Robert Craft said following the ceremony.