Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office’s Training Academy graduates second class

The seven recruits have been assigned to the Corrections Bureau

(From left) Corrections Deputies Denzel Dejesus, Armany Rosario-Rodriguez, Matthew Noble, Cohen Pereira, Alex Merchant, Dale Olson and Christopher Chavez are joined by Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. Photo courtesy Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

On May 6, the seven newest recruits of the Courts and Corrections Division of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office gathered with friends and family members — plus other Sheriff’s Office personnel — to celebrate their graduation from the Sheriff’s Office’s Corrections Training Academy, the agency has announced.

They comprised the second graduating class of that academy, a news release points out.

The graduation followed their 13-week, 420-hour academy class, during which the recruits were instructed in physical fitness, handling of firearms, defensive tactics, first aid, legal issues, officer safety procedures, and correctional supervision guidelines, the release says. Additionally, they trained in emergency response and communications and became familiar with the agency’s facility and equipment, the release notes.

“It is exciting to welcome these seven recruits to our agency,” Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman said in the release, “and it is a great accomplishment for our agency to be able to provide their training and education from the very start of their career in corrections.”

The seven graduates were Corrections Deputy Dale Olson (the class president), Corrections Deputy Matthew Noble, Corrections Deputy Christopher Chavez, Corrections Deputy Denzel Dejesus, Corrections Deputy Alex Merchant, Corrections Deputy Cohen Pereira, and Corrections Deputy Armany Rosario-Rodriguez, the release adds.

Each of these deputies will be assigned to the Corrections Bureau, where they will continue their training, the release points out.