Lieutenant Mike Root grew up in Eugene, OR. He graduated from Lane Community College in 1990 with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice. In 1992 he graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelors degree in Sociology. After graduation he worked in juvenile corrections in Eugene and worked with abused kids in Corvallis.

In 1994 he was hired by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. He began his career as a correction’s deputy. He then served as the Court Security supervisor and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1998. In 2006, Mike was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to command the Douglas County jail.

Mike has a supervisor’s certificate from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). He has attended numerous training which has included: Court Security training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Command College, AJA Jail Evacuation, the Oregon Executive Development Institute, (OEDI), the Results Group, Ltd. Sergeants and Executive Academies, and he is a certified Oregon Jail Inspector to name a few.