Austin has a new police officer.

Seth Denzer, 24, was sworn into the department by Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger on Monday.

Denzer is an Austin native who grew up in Rochester, he said after the short ceremony at City Hall.

“I thought it would be great to serve the city I was born in,” he said with a smile. His grandparents, girlfriend and her father were all on hand to congratulate him. Mayor Tom Stiehm and others in the department were also on hand to offer their good wishes to the new officer.

Denzer is a 2011 graduate of John Marshall High School in Rochester. He graduated from Minnesota State College — Southeast Technical in Winona to obtain his associate of science degree in criminal justice. He then earned his law enforcement certificate at Rochester Community and Technical College.

He will now receive two weeks of in-house training before working with a field training officer. He will learn a full scope of duties, presented in three phases, said Krueger. To advance, he must pass the first phase test to go to the second; then he must pass the second to advance to the third, and then pass the third phase.

Denzer is one of 34 sworn officers who protect Austin, and one of five currently in the midst of their first year of service. Two will advance off of that list next month, Krueger said.