Deputies complete training course
Fifteen new deputies who recently completed the auxiliary/part-time II training course graduated March 20 with a badge pinning ceremony with Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick.
All new deputies, including auxiliary (reserve), part-time II, or full-time employees, must complete the milestone 122-hour course within their first year of employment, a news release said.
The course covers multiple law enforcement topics, including ethics, constitutional law and civil rights, racial profiling, report writing, accident report writing, use of force, defensive tactics, jail standards, firearms training, OC “pepper” spray, DWI detection and enforcement, patrol patterns and techniques, community policing, and laser shot simulation training.
“The sheriff made a promise to the people of Garland County, that he would create the most professional law enforcement agency in the state of Arkansas and each of you that are graduating tonight are part of that promise,” Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence said while introducing McCormick at the ceremony.
“I am grateful for the support shown by friends and family, without that support we would not be able to do our jobs, I will never forget the friends and families of my employees,” McCormick told the graduates.
McCormick also counseled the graduating class to remember they are a direct representation of him, and their actions, whether good or bad, ultimately reflect on him and the office of the sheriff, the release said.
The following deputies were pinned during the ceremony: Andrea Commander, John Crow, Ronald Gillespie, Kim Greathouse, Timothy Griffith, Wendy Guthrie, Kolby Hamilton, Kelly Hooker, Ernest Jones, Danny King, Richard Retford, Candice Stacks, Sawyer Williams, Lisa Wright and Robert Wunderlin.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the graduate’s friends and families in the courtroom of the Garland County Detention Center, and was reportedly the first badge pinning ceremony ever conducted by the sheriff’s department for graduates of the auxiliary/part-time II training program.
Two deputies also received awards for being at the top of their class. Reserve Deputy Ronald Gillespie received the “Top Shot” award, and Reserve Deputy Kim Greathouse received the “Top Academics Award.”