WOODLAND — There’s one more police officer on the beat here, at least part-time.

Last week the Woodland Police Department welcomed their latest edition, part-time officer Michael H. Duhadaway.

Duhadaway was sworn in at the Woodland Town Council meeting by Mayor Jay Jenkins. Duhadaway’s wife, Ariel, held the Bible for the brief ceremony as one of the couple’s two children, seven-year-old daughter, Joanna, looked on.

“I’m honestly looking forward to it,” he said “I’ve always been interested in law enforcement; a lot of my friends are police officers and sheriff’s deputies.”

Duhadaway, a native of Halifax County, is no stranger to working under pressure. He served six years in the military, two of which were in Iraq.

“I know what’s at stake,” he said. “I know I’m risking my life going out there.”

Like all law enforcement officers, Duhadaway completed his 17-weeks of Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at Halifax Community College.

He currently works at Fineline Industries and said he will continue to work there for the time being.

Duhadaway said he’s looking forward to the one on one community interaction and the basics of what law enforcement officers do: helping out and protecting and serving the citizens of Woodland.

“Integrity is everything,” he said.

Duhadaway started his job Monday.

Later in the meeting, the council approved advertisement for a full time officer.

Woodland Police Chief Don Ryan said he is still looking for an officer to fill a position funded by a federal grant the town received this summer.

WPD was awarded $134,100 from the federal stimulus package, which will provide funding for one new full time police officer position for three years. The grant requires the town to fund the position for at least another year after the first initial three supported wholly by the funds.