Information

Cadets

During the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office academy, cadets complete 13 weeks of required courses as set forth by the Utah Department of Public Safety Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). These courses focus on interactions with people, incorporate de-escalation techniques, and provide cultural sensitivity training and diversity education. The academy also provides multiple courses in ethics, leadership, and professionalism.

Classes include:

Community Relations

Crimes Against Public Order and Decency

Conflict Resolution

Excited Delirium and Agitated Chaotic Events

Reasonable Force

Response to Mental Health Crisis

Generational Perspectives

Riots and Disturbances

In-Custody Restraint Application

Decency

Deputies

Annually, deputies are required to complete 40 hours of state mandated in-service training to maintain POST certification. Our trainings reinforce de-escalation techniques and remind deputies that their presence and verbal commands are essential to achieving safe outcomes while using minimal force, if force is necessary at all.

Annually, deputies receive training on these topics:

Sexual Harassment

Suicide Prevention

Legal Updates

Healthy Lifestyles

First Aid/CPR (Biannually)

For the last five years Sheriff’s Office deputies have received training on the following topics:

2019-2020 training cycle:

• Situational Awareness
• Defensive Tactics*
• Invisible Disabilities
• Generational Perspectives
• First Aid/CPR

2018-2019 training cycle:

• Managing Your Ego
• Defensive Tactics*
• Customer Service
• Communications/Relations
• Riot and Disturbances

2017-2018 training cycle:

• PTSD Awareness
• Defensive Tactics*
• Transgender Communication
• PREA Update (Prison Rape Elimination Act)

2016-2017 training cycle:

• Officer Involved Critical Incidents
• Defensive Tactics*
• Offender Supervision Strategies

2015-2016 training cycle:

• Grievances and Appeals
• Defensive Tactics*
• Conflict Resolution
• Decency

* Defensive tactics focuses on the principles and practical aspects of personal safety. De-escalation techniques are included in these trainings as well as all use of force trainings.

Additional Training Information

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a specialized training that teaches law enforcement the skills necessary to intervene in situations involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis; it includes de-escalation tactics. Due to the value of this training, the Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with CIT Metro, offer multiple CIT classes each year. To date, 210 sworn and civilian members of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office are CIT certified.

Salt Lake County

As a department within Salt Lake County, our sworn and civilian staff are required to complete a variety of annual trainings. In 2019 all supervisors completed implicit bias training.

Salt Lake County is a member of the Unified Police Department. Click here to see information related to their law enforcement training and polices.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office strives to employ a diverse workforce that mirrors the community we serve. Over the last three years Sheriff Rivera has taken a number of actions to promote diversity including:

Changing recruitment efforts. Today 27% of our sworn staff identify as a person of color.

Championing statewide policy change. In 2019 the Utah State Legislature authorized a pilot program allowing Salt Lake County to hire deputies at age 19. This has improved our ability to recruit and hire a more diverse workforce.

Developing accommodations for refugees. By adapting the traditional background check for refugees, we were able break down a hiring barrier and in April 2020 the first refugee to utilize the process graduated the academy.