A veteran detective has been added to the staff of the Webster County Attorney’s Office to fill a new investigator position.

Larry Hedlund, a Fort Dodge Police Department detective who is a former Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent, was hired by the Webster County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Hedlund will start his new job July 6. His starting salary will be $60,000.

”We’re all, I think, very excited to be bringing someone with his level of experience, maturity and expertise in criminal investigations into our office,” County Attorney Darren Driscoll said.

The post is a new one created to assist the Fort Dodge, Dayton and Gowire police departments, along with the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, with any major criminal investigations.

Under an agreement already approved by the Fort Dodge City Council and the Board of Supervisors, the city will pay 60 percent of Hedlund’s salary. The county will pay the remaining 40 percent of the salary and all of the employer’s share of the benefits.

The Board of Supervisors also approved the hiring of Dan Charlson as a deputy sheriff. Charlson has been a Fort Dodge police officer for 14 years.

”His professionalism is a huge asset,” Sheriff Luke Fleener said.

Charlson, who will start his new job on July 12, will fill one of two newly created deputy positions. The other position has not been filled yet.

Fleener said after the two new deputies are on the job, the Sheriff’s Office will begin providing security at the courthouse.