New police officer introduced to La Cygne council

New La Cygne police officer Jo LeStourgeon, who has been on duty for about three weeks, was introduced to the La Cygne City Council last week. (Roger Sims/Linn County Journal)

LA CYGNE – Jo LeStourgeon, La Cygne’s new police officer comes to the force with a solid background in law enforcement and, even better for the city, she has been through the state’s training academy and is certified.

In an interview on Wednesday, Sept. 28, LeStourgeon, who grew up in the Olathe and Gardner area, said that as a child she always wanted to be a policeman or join the military. The draw of law enforcement won out, and she joined the Osawatomie Police Department more than two years ago.

In addition to law enforcement training, she took emergency medical responder training through Johnson County Community College. She is a certified emergency medical technician (EMT).

A horse person – she owns three – LeStourgeon said she likes working in a community the size of La Cygne. “I love it so far,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”

La Cygne Police Chief Tina Fenoughty introduced LeStourgeon to the council as part of her report on Wednesday, Sept. 21. As she gave the report she noted that that department had received more animal complaints than usual over a 36-day period and that the number of animal cruelty citations had increased as well.

She said her department had issued 19 citations for animal cruelty, a number she deemed high. The chief said there was one dog in the city pound because of an animal cruelty charge and she expected to pick up another two dogs within the next couple of days.

She also noted that there had been several complaints of dogs running loose.