On May 20th, 2016 the Polk County Sheriff’s Office had three Corrections Deputies graduate from the Basic Corrections Academy at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). Deputies Steene, Hofferber and Rierson all successfully completed the 6-week training program. Sheriff Mark Garton had the honor to be the guest speaker during the graduation ceremony today and urged the graduates to “retain their perspective they have today and to honor this profession by holding themselves to a higher standard everyday”.
During the academy training the new corrections deputies received training in defensive tactics, use of force, firearms, Oregon and Federal Law and communication skills. These deputies are all brand new to the profession and new to the Sheriff’s Office. The corrections academy training provides a good foundation of skills and knowledge for them to build upon when they return to their agency. When they return to the Polk County jail they must complete their 12-14-week field training program, which begins Monday. During their field training, they will be training alongside more experienced corrections deputies to ensure they fully understand all facets of being a corrections deputy in the Polk County jail. These three deputies were hired for the positions that were granted from the voter approved public safety levy.
Also, on May 13th, 2016 Deputy Mike Smith graduated from the basic police class at DPSST. Deputy Smith successfully completed a 16-week training program while at DPSST. During the basic police training Deputy Smith learned a variety of topics ranging from defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, Oregon criminal law, federal law, firearms and a wide variety of other topics. Deputy Smith has already completed his field training program prior to going to DPSST and started back to patrol two days after graduating. Deputy Smith was also hired from the positions granted in the voter approved public safety levy.
On June 10th, 2016 the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has four patrol deputies that will be graduating from the police academy. These deputies will need to complete some of their field training when they return from DPSST and after they complete their training it will allow the Sheriff’s Office to expand its services and patrol hours
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