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The Police Officer Safety Enhancement Program will train 22 Sheriff's Deputies in weapons and tactics enhancing safety.

"In talking with the sheriff, we believe this is the first time that a law enforcement agency in this area has received a training grant of this magnitude," said Undersheriff Garry Biniecki.

"The whole idea behind the P.O.S.E. Federal Training Grant is to enhance the patrol officer's safety giving them a tactical edge not normally available to traditional patrol officers," stated Sgt Brad Roff

"This individualized training for the deputies is more appropriate in today's environment due to fewer officers being available for assistance. The training each deputy receives should allow them to work more independently, however safer," he added.

The program will involve over 80 hours of intense training for each deputy. Training will include building searches, felony vehicle stops, violent criminal apprehension and handcuffing techniques. Other training areas include edged weapons, duty handgun retention, and defensive tactics. The deputies will receive specialized firearm training with handgun, shotgun, and patrol rifles focusing on marksmanship skills.

The grant also includes new equipment for the deputies as well as range equipment, and several thousand rounds of ammunition.

Roff has enlisted specialized instructors to assist in the training, which will begin this spring.

He was placed in charge of the application process including the research, development and submission of the grant. Roff had to write the program from start to finish, including assessing each deputy's training level both prior to and then after the program training. Obtaining the grant took over eight months of diligent grant documentation.