Nine sheriff’s deputies graduate from Hanover County law enforcement academy

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A new class of deputies answers the call to serve as nine recruits -- eight of whom will join the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and one of whom will join the New Kent Sheriff's Office -- graduated from the law enforcement training academy on Friday.

Since January, the recruits have received firearm and emergency vehicle training, as well as scenario training on how to respond to domestic issues, and countless hours of other lessons. Now, a new chapter begins at Life Church off Atlee Road, where these deputies graduated from their initial training.

The nine deputies took their oath and had loved ones pin their badges on their uniforms, commemorating an end to months of academy training.

All could not have been possible without other officers and volunteers who placed trust in the men and women who graduated.

Hanover County Sheriff David Hines told the same men and women to remember that the uniform and badge they wear are a symbol of trust. He added that as Virginia's newest law enforcement officers, they must never lose trust in the communities they serve, even if some may have lost trust in policing itself.

"It's the trust that the communities have placed in you, and never, ever forget that. Serve with compassion. Serve with empathy. Serve with pride. Serve with integrity," Sheriff Hines said.

Sheriff Hines also asked all the deputies to respond to every call with empathy.

The new deputies will get their first taste of policing within the next few days as part of their field training, and each of these new deputies will have a seasoned officer oversee their work for the next 12 weeks as part of that field training.

Starting in the early fall, they will patrol Hanover County on their own. Within the next 48 hours, each of the deputies will have finished their first shift in law enforcement.