Several deputies with the Rowan County Sheriffís Office recently received certifications ranging from basic to advanced from the N.C. Sheriffís Education and Training Standards Commission.
The following officers were recognized:
Officer Adam Davis Loflin, awarded the Advanced Deputy Professional Law Enforcement Certificate on Dec. 14. It is the highest professional certificate awarded to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in North Carolina.
The purpose of the certificate, a press release said, is ěTo recognize the level of competence of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs serving North Carolina sheriffsí offices, to foster increased interest in college education and professional law enforcement training, and to attract highly qualified individuals into a law enforcement career.î
To qualify, Loflin completed a combination of professional training and relevant education, and he also met minimum experience requirements.
Officer Gary Fernandez, Basic Law Enforcement Certificate.
Fernandez was hired June 6, 2001, as a detention officer and became a deputy April 20, 2008.
He was eligible for the certificate after he completed basic law enforcement training and served for one year.
Fernandez currently works in the courts.
Jeff Hodges, Basic Law Enforcement and Basic Detention certificates.
Hodges was hired Sept. 6, 2009, and currently works as a patrol officer.
He was eligible for both certificates after he completed basic law enforcement training, the detention officer certification course, and one year of service.
Justin Nelson, Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate.
Nelson was hired July 3, 2005, and is currently a K-9 handler and part of the ACE (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement) team.
He was eligible for the certificate after six years of service and 1,380 hours of training.
Shauna Wale, Basic Detention Certificate.
Wale was hired Aug. 26, 2007, and currently works in the civil department.
She was eligible for the certificate after completion of the detention officer certification course and one year of service.
Oliver Greene, Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate.
Greene, hired March 29, 2004, worked as a detention officer until April 20, 2008, then became a deputy. He currently works as a patrol officer. He was eligible for the certificate after two years of service, obtaining a bachelorís degree and 460 hours of training.