Training and Authority
Since the early 1970's deputies have received entry level
training certifying them as Police Officers in the State of Maryland. Starting
in the early 1990's all deputies receive entry level police training at the
Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy as part of the police recruit
class. The academy is 27 weeks in duration and is both physically and academically
challenging, this training complies with and exceeds the requirements set forth
by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission. A Deputy Sheriff is
assigned to the academy staff as a coordinator and instructor. This integration
into the academy training has created a close and bonding relationship between
the Sheriff's Deputies and Police Officers and has strengthened the camaraderie
between the two agencies.
Upon successful completion of the academy new deputies report to
the Sheriff's Office and are evaluated in a 14 week Field Training Program (FTO).
Newly sworn Deputy Sheriff's are assigned to a Senior Deputy who has received
specialized training in evaluation, development and application of the skills
taught in the academy. Daily and weekly reports are completed and tracked to
ensure satisfactory performance in this phase of the training process.
Deputies are also required to return to the academy yearly to
maintain their Police Officer Certification and participating in such classes as
Law, Firearms, Defensive Tactics and First Responder etc. Deputies also attend
training classes throughout the State of Maryland as well as in other states in
a wide variety of specialized skills.
The Maryland Constitution
provides that the Sheriff be elected every four years and the Office comes
under the Judicial Branch of Government. The Sheriff is therefore a State
Constitutional Officer who functions autonomously from the Legislative and
Executive branches of government. The authority and responsibilities of
the Office of the Sheriff are established by common law, statutory enactment and
judicial rules. A Sheriff's jurisdiction is defined as the county in which the
Sheriff is elected and is referred to as a "bailiwick." The Sheriff
and his Deputies have the authority to serve certain types of process in other
Maryland counties such as summonses, subpoenas and arrest warrants.
Duties and responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office include but
are not limited to:
