A new face will soon be joining the ranks of the Langley Police Department.

Austin Proffitt has been hired as the city’s newest police officer.

According to Langley Police Chief Tavier Wasser, Proffitt is a lateral hire and an Oak Harbor native who moved off-island for job opportunities but was looking for a chance to move back to Whidbey.

“With this job placement, he will be able to do that,” Wasser said.

Proffitt previously worked for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

Including the police chief, the new hire will bring the number of the city’s police officers up to four, which hasn’t been the case for several years.

Wasser said having more personnel will allow officers to take personal time off, enforce the need to take sick leave instead of “pushing through it,” reduce the overtime budget and generate a healthy environment for officers to take on additional responsibilities. It will also pull Wasser off the duty schedule, allowing him more time to “update the police department into a modern and model agency.”