Senior Deputy Curriculum

Module 1:  Departmental  Functions
Hours
Office of the Sheriff
1
Bonding Procedures
2
Court Orders
3
Civil Process
4
Court Services
16
Mental Commitments and Transportation of the Mental Ill
3
One-Man Car Patrol Tactics
4
Prisoner Transport
4
Administrative
3
Sub-Total 
40

Module 2: Advanced Courses
Hours
Search Procedures for Wanted and Missing Persons
3
Water Accidents and Drowning
3
Advanced Report Writing
16
Basic Jail Officer Course
47
Public Relations
3
Interpersonal Relations
8
Sub-Total 
80

Module 3: Specialized Electives                  

In addition to Module 1 and Module 2, each deputy must complete two hundred (200) hours of elective courses to meet the 320 hour training requirement.  These courses may not include: (1) required core courses, (2) refresher or in-service training, or (3) basic training required for any certification issued by POST.  Courses such as Instructor Training, Firearms Instructor, core classes in the Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced Certifications, etc. may not be credited toward Module 3. The selection of topics MUST be approved by the sheriff.  The following list of electives is examples of POST approved courses that can be studied to meet the elective requirement.  Courses not approved by the Council cannot be used to meet this requirement unless prior approval has been requested and approved by the Council in writing.

EXAMPLES, not required topics:

Course
Hours
Advanced Crime Scene
40
Verbal Judo
40
High Risk Warrant Service
24
Hazardous Materials
8
Specialized Topics in Hostage Negotiations
24
Blood Pattern Analysis
40
Domestic Violence
24
Sub-Total 
200
GRAND TOTAL
320

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Course Descriptions

Ga. Sheriffs’ Association  Senior Deputy Curriculum

Course
Hours
Course is Designed To:
Office of the Sheriff
1
 Acquaint the deputy with the Office of Sheriff and the responsibilities and obligations one assumes upon employment both to the sheriff and to the community
Bonding Procedures
2
 Provide the deputy with instruction concerning the various types of bonds and relationship of the courts to the bonding procedure.
Court Orders
3
 Provide the deputy with KNOWLEDGE of extradition procedures, detainer, court orders, bench warrants, and the Uniform Reciprocal Support Act.
One Man Patrol
4
 Provide the deputy with information regarding the mental, physical, and tactical considerations needed to effectively and safely handle routine and potentially dangerous or hazardous field operations while on rural patrol.
Basic Jail Officer Course
47
 Provide the deputy the opportunity to understand basic issues concerning jails, their operations, and specific jail skills.  All certified deputies must complete this course for Senior Deputy Certification.  (If the deputy previously completed the 80-hour Basic Jail Officer Course, it satisfies this requirement.)
Civil Process
4
 Provide the deputy with a working knowledge of the types of civil process handled by the sheriff’s office, to include writs, summons, ejectment, procedures, and garnishment cases
Mental Commitments and Transports
3
 Familiarize the deputy with the transportation of the mentally ill and the unique problems associated with such transportation.  This block will also address the laws applicable to commitment of the mentally ill.
Advanced Report Writing
16
 Provide the deputy with the basic mechanics of report writing and will gain the ability to write clear and concise reports
Court Services
16
 Familiarize the deputy with the procedures for protecting courtrooms, court officers, defendants, witnesses, jurors and visitors; to explain the sheriff’s role in providing bailiff services to the courts.
Interpersonal Relations
8
 Enable the deputy to identify and utilize effective communication SKILLS; given there are many barriers to communication in the law enforcement setting.
Search Procedures for Wanted/Missing Persons
3
 Provide the deputy with a working knowledge of procedures commonly utilized to search for and locate wanted and/or missing persons.
Public Relations
3
 Provide the deputy with the correct techniques in dealing with and the legal rights of the news media and how to negotiate certain tactics used by media personnel to gather information from law enforcement officers.
Prisoner Transports
4
 Acquaint the deputy with the procedures to be followed when transporting a prisoner outside the jail.  This will include transportation by motor vehicle and aircraft.  Emphasis will be placed on the hazards and security issues associated with escorting and transporting prisoners.
Water Accidents & Drowning Procedures
3
 Acquaint the deputy with the methods and procedures needed to efficiently and effectively handle water accidents and drownings.

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Sheriffs’ Office Responsibilities In Teaching Senior Deputy Classes

If you wish to offer Module One and Module Two Senior Deputy classes at your sheriff’s office, you must inform the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. by contacting their Training Director in writing  and agree to abide by the following rules:

  • Provide the Association with the name, contact number, and email address of the agency’s Training Officer.

  • Provide the Association with a six month schedule of training dates, (preferably based on January - June, July - December) with date / time / location of training.

  • It is the responsibility of each sheriff’s office to utilize POST certified instructors.  Provide the Association with the name / DOB / SSN of each instructor and the class title of the class(es) each is teaching.  (GSA must verify that each course is taught by a POST certified instructor.)

  •          If the class is longer than four hours, then an attendance roster should be provided for the students to sign-in during each morning and afternoon session.

  • In each class, students should complete the following:
    • student registration form
    • instructor evaluation form

  • #         Upon completion of each training session, submit to GSA’s Training Director the following info:
    • C-12 using the academy number of 22.
    • Roster with
      • (a) name of sheriff’s office, course title, name of instructor, etc.
      • (b) names of students as they are to appear on the certificate
      • (c) county employed by
      • (d) social security number
      • (e) test grade if applicable
    • Instructor evaluation forms
    • Student registration forms

  • Tests are required in three blocks of instruction: Advanced Report Writing, Interpersonal Relations, and the 47-Hour BJOC.  GSA’s Staff must administer these tests.  These classes must have a minimum of 15 students for GSA to approve the class and agree to administer the test.

Note: the Association will provide you with a copy of the: student registration forms, instructor evaluation form, and sign-in roster.

Copies of the lesson plan outlines and student handouts may be obtained from the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.  However, the outlines and student handout information are over ten years old.  It is the sheriff’s office responsibility to ensure that the objectives are met, and that information taught is current.  Do not distribute the handout information but use it as a guide.  The Association is in the process of updating the lesson plans. PowerPoint presentations are available for some of the classes and will be provided as well.

NOTE: If you prefer to go through your local training academy, contact them for permission to teach the program offsite at your sheriff’s office.

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Senior Deputy Certification Program Frequently Asked Questions

A.  Why are there no defined lesson plans that allows a difference in curriculums that each agency is teaching?

Answer: It is the responsibility of your sheriff’s office or the course instructor to develop lesson plans based on the outlines provided by GSA and POST. Copies of these outlines may be attained through Tonia Welch, Training Director for the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Inc. at 770.914.1076 or twelch@georgiasheriffs.org.  The Association also appreciates copies of lesson plans developed by instructors.

B.  Can we share handouts among the agencies who offer the certification?

Answer: Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. will collect any class handout material from locations that teach the certification course. If you have handout material that you will share with other sheriff’s offices, send them to GSA. If you need reference material for a certain subject, call GSA or your regional academy.

C.  Why is the Basic Jail Officer Course only a 47-Hour course?

Answer: The 47-hour course is available for certified law enforcement officers who have completed Basic Mandate.  During Basic Mandate, officers met part of the 80-hour course requirements.  If you have taken the 80 -hour class Basic Jail Officer Course, you may apply 47 hours of this training towards Senior Deputy.

D.  Do I need a P2 for the 47-Hour Basic Jail Officer Course?

Answer: It is highly recommended, but not required, that each student obtain a P2 before starting the 47-hour course.  If the student obtains a P2, then he/she will be attain his/her Jail Officer Certification upon successfully completing the course (that includes passing the test).  Otherwise, the student just receives 47-hours of training that is applied toward the Senior Deputy certification.

E.  Are there any test involved?

Answer: Tests are required for the following classes: Interpersonal Relations, Advanced Report Writing, and the 47-Hour Basic Jail Officer Course.  The tests must be administered by GSA Staff or by your local academy.

F.  Where do you send the POST C-12 forms?

Answer: Send the C-12 to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc.

G.  What is the Module One Administrative Block?

Answer: This is not a block of instruction.  This is time factored in for testing, etc.

H.  Do we need to establish a minimum number of participants for classes?

Answer: Classes should not be offered to less than ten students, unless it is a class that requires testing.  A minimum number of 15 students are required for classes requiring testing.

I.  Is there a ribbon, pin or certificate for completion of the program?

Answer:   Yes.  Students will receive a Senior Deputy pin and a certificate from GSA upon completion of the program.  POST provides GSA a list quarterly of students who have completed the program.  GSA will forward the pin and certificate to the student upon notification from POST.

J.  Are certificates of completion necessary for each training class?

Answer: Yes.  Students need a certificate issued by GSA for each training block.

K.  Must I complete the modules in order?

Answer:  No.  You may take the classes in any order you wish.  Often deputies have most of their electives completed before they even begin taking Modules One and Two.

L.  What classes do not qualify as an elective in Module 3?

Answer: These courses may NOT include: (1) required core courses, (2) refresher or in-service training, or (3) basic training required for any certification issued by POST.  This includes courses such as Instructor Training, Firearms Instructor, Career Development core classes such as Traffic Law, Crime Scene Processing, Specialized Patrol Techniques, Interviews and Interrogations, Criminal Procedures, First Responder, Officer Survival, etc.  If you question if a class qualifies for Module 3, contact GSA’s Training Director or Ryan Powell at POST.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Tonia Welch, GSA Training Director, at 770.914.1076 or twelch@georgiasheriffs.org OR Brent Loeffler, GSA Projects Coordinator, at 770-914-1076 or brent@georgiasheriffs.org.

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