UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The newest class of deputy sheriffs from around the state will return to their home communities prepared to serve after graduating from the Pennsylvania Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Program at Penn State on Sept. 1.
Run by the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute (JASI), the academy trains newly hired sheriffs and deputy sheriffs from all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
For deputy Chrissy Webb from Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office, graduating from the program will help fulfill a lifelong dream. She said she planned to enter a police academy right out of high school, but parenthood came first.
“I have wanted to work in law enforcement since I was 10 years old,” Webb said. “Now, my sons are 24 and 19 and I am able to fulfill my dream.”
Being away from her family during the 19-week training program was a challenge, but among the other deputies, she took on a familiar roll.
“I am the mom out of the group, they call me mom,” Webb said. “The bonds forged through the demanding training program helped the whole class succeed. None of us wanted to see any other person fail. Even though you are here for yourself, per se, we don’t feel that way as a whole. We came in together and we are leaving together.”
For Class Platoon Leader Joshua Porter, from the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office, that camaraderie helped as he transitioned after 15 years of active duty in the Army.
“I tried sitting at a desk and I didn’t like it. I needed more of a team environment; people that were like-minded. It is somewhat similar to the military in that way,” Porter said.
Over the course of the 19-week training program held at Penn State's University Park campus, the sheriff deputies received instruction in several law enforcement areas, including Pennsylvania crime codes and civil procedures, cultural diversity, ethics, firearms, first responder/first aid, defensive tactics, courtroom security and physical training.
The graduating class of 36 deputies will be the 66th since the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency selected Penn State JASI as the academy’s administrator in 2000. Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs; judges; attorneys; and local, state and federal law enforcement officers help deliver the training.
“I did not expect the diversity of the instructors from across that state. This is the only sheriff academy in the state of Pennsylvania, and they have instructors from all over the state that are very proficient, which is a benefit to the academy,” Porter said.
Class President Joshua Wolfe, from the Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office, said he will be glad to be back home with his wife and three children after completing the academy. He said they are already proud of him for what he has accomplished.
“To my two boys, ages 4 and 6, I am already Sheriff Woody from 'Toy Story.' So, yeah, they love it,” Wolfe said. “This is something that my wife and I had talked about for years. I was in heavy highway construction for 12 years, and a couple of years ago I knew I wanted to make a move.”
Like Webb, graduating from the academy will help him realize a dream he has had since he was a kid.
“I didn’t want to be in my mid-40s and 50s sitting on the couch thinking I should have done that. So, I rolled the dice,” Wolfe said. “At the risk of sounding selfish, there is a personal gratification in knowing that you are going to strap on that bulletproof vest and gun and serve. Try to help someone out on their worst day.”
JASI is a Penn State Outreach program.