Pictured left to right: Elizabeth Smith, Kaitlyn Hodges, Michael Pensa, Veronica Smith, Thomas Kutz, Sheriff Bill Leeper after the recruits received their badges at graduation.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper announced that five new NCSO detention deputies graduated Tuesday, September 18, 2018, from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Training Academy at Florida State College at Jacksonville. The graduation was held at FSCJ’s Kent Campus.
Those who completed the 4 month academy were Kaitlyn Hodges, 19 from Hilliard; Thomas Kutz, 29 from Jacksonville; Elizabeth Smith, 33 from Folkston; Michael Pensa, 20 from Hilliard; and Veronica Smith, 22 from Jacksonville. The new recruits will now go through a 14-week field training program at the Nassau County jail/Detention Center before being fully certified.
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputies monitors, controls and accounts for incarcerated inmates and civilian visitors while at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Jail / Detention facilities. The Detention Deputy also monitors and supervises juveniles. The most important and essential job function of the position is attitude which includes interacting positively and cooperating with co-workers, NCSO law enforcement officers, Nassau County fire/rescue officers, other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and other public safety personnel.
“A career as a detention deputy never gets boring, said Sheriff Leeper. The stress and dangers of correctional work requires these officers to be well rounded so that they can be prepared for anything. These highly trained individuals have to be a good listener, counselor, social worker, and emergency medical technician.”
The rigorous training to become a detention deputy includes defensive tactics, weapons qualification with rifle, shotgun and handgun, use of restraint devices, inmate transport techniques, proper radio transmissions, emergency signals and emergency and crisis intervention.
The minimum qualifications are high school diploma or GED certification, valid Florida Driver’s License, and must be at least 19 years of age. He/she must have a basic recruit certificate for corrections in compliance with the Florida CJSTC or be willing to complete the training at an approved law enforcement academy. Prior law enforcement experience is preferred, but not mandatory and prior experience in corrections, security, or social work is a plus.
If you are interested in an exciting and rewarding career in corrections, please contact the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Human Resource office at 904-548-4012 or visit www.nassauso.com for more information.
