Upon appointment, trainees will be placed in the Field Training Deputy Program. They will spend 15 weeks with Field Training Officers (FTO). Each recruit will be placed with three different FTOs for a period of 5 weeks each. The recruit is then sent to a 16-week academy in Salem, Oregon. At the academy they will learn:
- Defensive driving
- Defensive tactics
- Firearms
- Legal aspects
- Physical fitness
- Safety training
Completion of the academy and the Field Training Deputy Program earns them statewide certification.
Working with Other Deputies
If you are interested in becoming a Douglas County Sheriff Deputy, you will work with other deputies who have made it through this intensive hiring and training process. This ensures that your co-workers are highly competent, responsible, and equally invested in the community you serve.