Training
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Training Requirements
Act 2 (Deputy Sheriffs)
Court System (16 hours) Total Hours (760) |
The requirement for training of deputy sheriffs is specifically provided by statute. The Deputy Sheriffs' Education and Training Act was established in 1984. 1984 P.L.3, No. 2.
The Act established what is known as the Deputy Sheriffs' Education and Training Board as an advisory board to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The board's function is to establish, implement, and administer a minimum course of study, as well as in-service training requirements for deputy sheriffs. The training is to consist of a minimum of 760 hours, the content of which is to be determined by regulation. The Act also provides that it is the duty of all sheriffs to insure that each deputy employed, who does not meet and exception, receives the training as required by the Act within one year of being hired as a deputy sheriff. In addition to this required training, it is important to note that in Commonwealth v. Leet, 537 Pa. 89, 641 A.2d 299 (1994), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court imposed additional training requirements upon a deputy sheriff. The court stated that before a deputy sheriff can perform certain functions, such as enforcing motor vehicle laws, the deputy sheriff must "complete the same type of training that is required of police officers throughout the Commonwealth." Id. at 97.
Municipal police officers in Pennsylvania are required to undergo mandatory training as established under 53 Pa.C.S. 2161, et seq, also known as Act 120. The Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Program is administered under the guise of the Pennsylvania State Police. The duties of the commission include the obligation to establish and administer minimum courses of study for basic and in-service training of police officers. Thus, training requirements in Pennsylvania are mandated by statute.
A deputy must, at a minimum, undergo the training as established by the Deputy Sheriffs' Education and Training Act. However, based upon Leet, a deputy sheriff may need to undergo additional training similar to municipal police officers' training to enable a deputy sheriff to enforce the vehicle laws of Pennsylvania.
Sheriff's Deputies perform the primary missions of Process Service, Courtroom Security, Prisoner Transport and Custody. Since 1984 all Sheriff's deputies are required by Pennsylvania Law to receive standardized training and education in the professional and lawful execution of their duties as Law Enforcement Officials. This training provides history of the Sheriff and the law, techniques of process service, security of Judges, courtrooms and staff, prisoner transportation, firearms qualification and safety, first aid and self defense.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has recognized the Deputy Sheriff Training Program as comparable to the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Act 120. Most of our deputies are certified with both Act-120 and the Deputy Sheriff Training Program. As a professional law enforcement agency we continually train our personnel. Each deputy is required to receive 20 hours of training and education semiannually on various subjects in order to maintain their state certification.
