TRAINING UNIT
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Training Unit is a part of Support Services Bureau. The Training Lieutenant, Training Sergeant, Range Officer, and three Deputies staff the Training Unit. The Training Unit is responsible for setting up training for all of the Sheriff's Office employees, both sworn and civilian. The Training Unit is responsible for planning and developing training programs, Training Academy administration, maintaining training records, implementing and coordinating training programs, selecting instructors, evaluating training programs, recruitment.
The Training Lieutenant is responsible for the overall management of the Office's training programs. The Training Sergeant is responsible for the Training Unit supervision and budgeting and is often required to assist with other specific activities. The Training Sergeant supervises the developing, scheduling, coordinating, documenting, and evaluating of training for all agency members. The Sergeant is the Basic Law Enforcement and Academy Director and coordinates with Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). The Training Coordinator Deputies consist of two Deputies from the Detentions Bureau and one from the Law Enforcement Bureau. They act as the liaisons for members of their Bureaus and coordinate all training associated with the Basic Academy and In-Service training. The Range Officer coordinates and schedules all firearms training for the Office.
The Sheriff's Office conducts at least one Basic Training Academy per year. The Academy must be approved by Colorado POST prior to the beginning of instruction. Currently, the Training Academy consists of 445 hours of POST required training to include academics and skills, along with additional hours of training in other areas of importance.
The minimum qualifications for those interested in becoming El Paso County Deputy Sheriffs are as follows:
- Must be 21 years of age.
- Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.
- Must possess a Colorado Driver's License.
- Must be financially responsible.
- Must be in good health.
- Eyesight must be correctable to 20/20.
- Weight must be in proportion to height.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
Applicants will not be considered if they have been convicted of a felony, certain misdemeanors, domestic violence or a crime of moral turpitude.
Applicants will not be considered if they have ever sold illegal drugs, used a hallucinogenic drug, used marijuana within the past 12 months, used any Schedule II substance within the last 5 years or used any Schedule III substance within the last 3 years.
Lateral transfers are accepted and will be required to complete the training in the Sheriff's Office Training Academy. For more information regarding lateral entries call (719) 520-7206 or (719) 520-7156.
Additional training needs are identified by the Training Advisory Committee (TAC), which is comprised of members from various divisions within the Sheriff's Office. TAC members are selected and appointed by Division Commanders and are responsible for identifying training needs, as well as researching and developing training criteria. TAC discusses training requirements, needs, and issues and develops department wide training plans.
For more information on training for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office you may call (719) 390-2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2012