Santa Barbara, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office congratulated four academy graduates and welcomed one lateral just before the Allan Hancock College Basic Law Enforcement Academy graduation yesterday. The class of 19 recruits completed a comprehensive California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), 862-hour course of instruction. Some of the academy instruction included community policing, report writing, laws of arrest, search and seizure, firearms, ethics, investigation procedures, patrol techniques, arrest and control, physical training, CPR/First Aid, and emergency vehicle operations.

Just before the graduation ceremony, Sheriff Brown led a swearing-in ceremony where he welcomed new deputies Dylan Darga, Kayla Saint-Fleur, Matthew Shotwell, and Garrett Weinreich along with Heather van Hemert who is joining the Sheriff’s Office as a lateral from the Santa Paula Police Department where she was a K9 handler and was featured on an episode of A&E’s America’s Top Dog.

The ceremony, which marks a beginning milestone in each deputies’ career, was shared with their close family members and included a badge pinning ceremony where recruits have their badges pinned on their uniforms by their mothers, fathers, and significant others. This shared moment marks the culmination of over six months of hard work by the recruit and unwavering support from the family members who stood by them.

If you are interested in career in law enforcement or know someone who is, please visit our website at SBSheriff.org to apply.