( KTRS ) The City of Ferguson has officially sworn in a new Police officer.

Area native, Drew Canaday, is the seventh African- American police officer in the department. He is the first recipient of a scholarship adopted by Ferguson City Council members in 2014, to attend the St. Louis County Police Academy. Officer Canaday previously worked for St. Louis County Corrections for 14 years.

Ferguson Police Chief Delrish Moss says, “Our number one goal is more than just diversifying the Ferguson police department, we want to find the right people to serve our citizens.”

The City of Ferguson is currently seeking additional funding to hire more police officers to join the force. Just recently the Ferguson Council proposed a utility license tax increase to on the the August 2nd , ballot. If the increase passes it will allow the City to hire five additional police officers. This will also allow the City, to keep three firefighters and prevent the Number 2 Firehouse from closing.