Message from the Sheriff
Happy 2023! The start of a new year is a time of reflection over the last year and anticipation of the great things to come this year.
Last year at Washington County Sheriff's Department we were able to hire a new deputy, Landon Lamaster. He is replacing a deputy who has left the department. Lamaster will be attending the Law Enforcement Academy this year to complete his training and begin serving the citizens of Washington County in full-time capacity.
Along those same lines and after the departure of another deputy, the hiring process has begun this year. Hopefully we will be announcing the hiring of another deputy in the near future.
Last year saw some of our seasoned deputies attend specialized training to further their careers.
Sgt. Matt Hein has completed training in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). His expertise will help fellow officers cope with some of the indelible calls in which they have been involved. Sgt. Hein has also become certified as a Field Training Officer (FTO), offering guidance to the new officers as they begin their journey in law enforcement.
Deputy Tory Hildreth has become a Firearms Trainer and Instructor for WCSD. He will lend his expertise to the officers of the department to maintain their firearms and weapons skills. Deputy Hildreth also received certification and now serves as the departments Evidence Manager.
Later this year we will have officers attending the Reid Technique. Reid is a specialized training in interrogation and interview to assist with every type, age, and gender of person of whom information is needed.
Several officers will also be attending Overdose Investigation training. Unfortunately the National drug problem also reaches into the Washington County area. The Sheriff's Department is doing its best to keep deputies up to date and to make sure they have all the tools, physical and mental, to best serve our citizens.
I am proud to announce that we have received a grant from the Washington County Community Foundation for the addition of 5 Automated Electronic Defibrillators (AEDs) to be carried in the officer's cruisers. These defibrillators will deliver a life-saving shock to a person in cardiac arrest. Often, because deputies are already out and about in the community, the deputies will arrive on scene prior to the ambulance being able to get there. The combination of CPR instruction given by our certified Emergency Medical Dispatchers at 9-1-1 and the administering of the AED shock can help save lives. We are extremely grateful to the Washington County Community Foundation for awarding the grant. More information will be coming in the future about the grant and the AED program.
I am looking forward to serving another year as the Sheriff of Washington County and am hopeful that the year will be rewarding and prosperous for our department, as well as for all of you!
Happy 2023!