ODESSA—A new police officer has been patrolling the town for several weeks. Gordon “Gordy” Bentler, 49, was hired by the town Jan 26 and has been on patrol for the last month.

Bentler, who now resides here, came from a stop with the Liberty Lake Police Department. Prior to his stint there, during which he lived in Spokane Valley, he worked for the Seattle Police Department near his hometown of Renton.

“I like the close community niche,” Bentler said of his decision to move to Odessa. “It’s really a welcoming community.”

Bentler got a degree in law enforcement from Central...