RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Seventeen new deputies have completed eight weeks of intensive internal training to officially launch their careers with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. During a ceremony held last Wednesday, Deputy Chief Steve Spence congratulated the new deputies and presented them with their badges in front of their families and friends.

Training Sergeant Sean Vinson extended his gratitude to the families and friends of the recruits for their support. “We’re a family,” Vinson stated. “You all are an extension of our family.”

The recruits began their journey by taking the oath of office and getting acquainted with their fellow trainees. Their rigorous training program included a diverse range of classes designed to prepare them for various challenges in law enforcement. These classes covered chemical weapons exposure, firearms and rifle training, defensive tactics, Crisis Intervention Training, Incident Command, legal review, crash investigations, traffic stops, radar use, driving courses, real-life scenario training, domestic violence response, and courtroom testimony.

Certified law enforcement officers among the recruits will further train with Field Training Officers (FTOs) for a few weeks. Those who are not yet certified will earn their certification upon graduating from the 12-week Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, after which they will also undergo training with the FTOs.

Vinson emphasized the intensity of the Sheriff’s Office training program, noting, “We want them to come home every single night.”

Photo Caption (Above Article): New deputies who earned badges are, from left, front row: Deputy Malia Porto, Deputy Sydney Segroves, Deputy Savannah Bowman, Deputy Jordynne Loy, Deputy Cameron Stamps, Deputy Samantha Delduca; back row: Chief Deputy Steve Spence, Deputy Kevin Holsopple, Deputy Brian Wyatt, SRO Cortez Williams, Deputy Yeojmeiko Salva, Deputy Trey Caison, SRO Matthew Tucker, and Training Sgt. Sean Vinson; third row: Capt. Angela Istvanditsch, SRO Landon Burgess, SRO Rodney Skaggs, Judicial Services Deputy Lee Brandon, Deputy Javosia Beard, Deputy Alexander Truter, and Maj. Kyle Evans.