San Andreas, CA…On February 19, 2022, members from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office attended the San Joaquin Delta College Police Academy graduation to welcome five new deputies. Over the six months, 952 hours, Academy deputies received instruction on various training topics. Some topics included de-escalation, firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operation, report writing, proper radio techniques, community-oriented policing and other contemporary law enforcement practices.

The new deputies include: Deputy Kaitlyn Spears. Deputy Spears started her career with the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office in 2017 as a correctional officer. During her employment in the jail, she was promoted to corporal and eventually selected to attend the Academy. Deputy Austin Keathley also started his career with the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer in 2020. Deputy Keathley earned a perfect attendance record and was the top overall Academy graduate during the Academy. While new to Calaveras County, Deputy William Cordova served as a Military Police Officer with the United States Army. Deputy Cordova was honored to earn the RTO Award chosen by the academy instructors for his grit and determination. Deputy Kristina Stevens graduated earning the Academy’s “True Grit Award”. Like Deputy Cordova, Deputy Stevens served as a Military Police Officer with the United States Army. Deputy Jesse Silva began his professional carrier as a Firefighter/EMT and now is proud to be a Calaveras County Deputy Sheriff.

The recruits began their orientation with the Sheriff’s Office on February 22, 2022. They will spend two weeks in orientation and then will be assigned to the field training program, where they will spend approximately 16 weeks with a series of Field Training Officers. Once they complete the FTO program, they will be assigned to patrol as a solo deputy.

To bring the department to full staffing, Sheriff DiBasilio is sending six recruits to the next Academy beginning mid-March 2022. These recruits are scheduled to graduate around mid-August. Increased staffing will allow deputies to engage in more proactive law enforcement activities, including community-oriented policing activities, filling the vacant school resource officer position, and reducing response times.

Despite recent hirings, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office still has open positions for dispatcher, deputy sheriff, and correctional officer. We are holding a written and physical agility test for the Sheriff Recruit position on March 19th. Interested persons are encouraged to visit https://joincalaverassheriff.com or contact Lieutenant Greg Stark at 209-754-6783.