In two separate and socially distanced ceremonies, Sheriff Bill Brown swore in six custody deputies and six sheriff’s deputies just prior to their graduation ceremonies at the Allan Hancock College Public Safety Academy.

Six custody deputies on Dec. 8, graduated from the CORE Custody Academy along with two other classmates, having completed 220 hours of course instruction.

Some of the instruction included emergency planning in a custody facility, report writing, ethics, investigation procedures, classification of inmates, contraband detection, arrest and control, physical training, and direct supervision training.

Graduates from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office include: Jose Blanco, Wei-Chieh Shih, Salvador Vargas, Samuel Villegas, Lia Welkom and Glenn Williams.

Custody Deputy Welkom was honored as the class valedictorian, Blanco received the Ron Battles Award, and Vargas earned the Leadership Award.

On Dec. 9, six sheriff’s deputies graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, along with 10 other classmates, having completed 751 hours of course instruction.

Graduates from the Sheriff’s Office include Steven Cruz, Emanuel DeAlba, Yeshella Jimenez, Tyler Odekirk, Christopher Portman and Harrison Tabora.

Co-valedictorian Deputy Odekirk also earned the Marksmanship award, Physical Fitness award, and Scenarios award.

The new deputies will continue their growth in the Field Training program. Upon completion of Field Training, they will be patrolling Santa Barbara County as solo deputies.

Anyone interested in a career in law enforcement, or who knows someone who is, should visit SBSheriff.org to apply.

To view the swearing-in ceremonies, visit the Instagram page SantaBarbaraCountySheriff.