The city of Rugby has added two new police officers to the department which already included Sgt. Justin Maus and Police Chief Luis Coca.

Mark Underhill graduated from the Alexandria (Minn.) Technical College with a 2-year degree in law enforcement in 1984. He brings over 20 years experience to the job including four years in the U.S. Air Force as a security police officer.

Underhill’s most recent position was with the Red Lake, Minnesota Police Department where he spent the last five years. He joined the Rugby Police Department on September 2 of this year.

A native of the Bemidji, Minnesota area, Underhill is single and has one son, Gary Underhill, 21, who attends UND, Grand Forks, studying air traffic control.

“I really enjoy the city of Rugby and the people,” said Officer Underhill.

The second hire is Scott Bommersbach who graduated from Lake Region State College, Devils Lake with a two-year degree in law enforcement.

Rugby is his first job as a police officer. He admits to being a rookie, but seems eager to put his newly learned skills into practice. He started the job on September 1.

Although, at 22, he said he is too young to have a spouse or child, he does have a yellow lab named Spuds and a calico cat named Camel.

Bommersbach, who hails from the Walcott, ND area, likes being outdoors, hunting or fishing.

Currently, the two officers work eight-hour shifts, usually late afternoon and evening or overnight during weekdays and they rotate 12 -hour shifts on weekends. The chief usually works the daytime shift during the week.

“I really like this community and the people,” said Officer Bommersbach. “It fits me. I like the country.”