Submitted by Lt. Sean Peterson
The Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office held its 2018 Sheriff’s Reserve Academy graduation at Lake Christian Church Thursday, Dec. 6. The event honored 13 Fluvanna County residents that were chosen among a group of over 50 candidates to become sworn reserve deputies for the agency.
The sheriff’s office has increased its reserve division from six to 22 deputies and will max out at 25 for 2019.
The academy consisted of 125 hours of classroom and hands-on training ranging from Virginia law to defense tactics and conducting traffic stops. The academy ended with a culmination event of practical exercises and a final exam.
Beginning in January, the newly minted reserve deputies will conduct 12 months (120 hours) of field training with agency field training officers before they become a functional unit in patrol.
Lt. Sean L. Peterson, reserve operations commander, assisted in developing the program into what it has become. From early stages of recruitment to a robust academy training outline and instruction, the training was billed as top notch and mirrored similar reserve programs from around the state.
The primary mission of the FCSO Reserves is to assist as a second deputy on patrol, as another sworn asset to the full-time deputy on duty. Additionally, reserve deputies may be called upon to assist with courts, special events in the county, natural disasters, or other needs as directed by the sheriff.
Each reserve deputy is required to purchase all of his or her own gear and uniforms as authorized by the sheriff. This amounts to about a $1,500 to $2,000 personal investment. Along with the personal investment in dollars, each reserve deputy is required to maintain a minimum of eight hours per month of volunteer service.
“There is no greater asset to the community than a volunteer,” said Peterson. “I am honored and humbled to welcome them all to our law enforcement family. This group of careered county residents stepped up and took an oath to defend, protect, and serve this community, and they are doing it out of selfless service, with zero compensation. Fluvanna County is safer today because of their sacrifice to serve. My goal is to maintain this division at 25 sworn reserve deputies and to continue to foster the best training possible for them.”
“What better way to serve your community?” said Sheriff Eric Hess. “Reserve deputies will have the inimitable opportunity to serve their community by helping build trust and legitimacy between the sheriff’s office and the citizens of Fluvanna County.”
Reserve graduate and Commissioner of Revenue Mel Sheridan said, “My opportunity to spend three months training with the sheriff’s office proved to be both demanding and a tremendous learning experience. I was amazed by the sheer volume of information our deputies are required to know in order to do their jobs. They are professional and dedicated, committed to keeping the citizens of Fluvanna safe. I’m grateful for the chance to support and assist them in my new role as a reserve deputy.”
The 2018 reserve deputy graduates are: Alexander Elliot Cullen, Jose Benjamin De Jesus, Jr., Robert Edward Dorsey, Timothy Byron Fulk, Felix Humberto Galvez, Charles David Hoffman, Robert Towner Jones, Jr., Ronald Paul Lauziere, Paul Arthur Pellicane, Andrew Melvin Sheridan, Jr., Boris Alexis Valladares, Charles Daniel Walton, and Kyle Jared Rosemann.
