TRAINING DIVISON

The Marion County Sheriff's Office Training Unit has earned the reputation for providing its sworn and civilian employees with the best possible training available. Quite simply, it’s an investment based on the premise that the way one trains is the way they will perform. The agency provides all the training mandated by the State of Florida, as well as a myriad of career enhancing elective courses to all its employees. We pride ourselves in providing the latest and most relevant training to all employees, so they can handle any situation they encounter in today’s law enforcement or detention settings.

The Training Unit consists of 5 sworn personnel and 1 civilian personnel.  The Training Unit is responsible for facilitating and coordinating training to all agency employees, both sworn and civilian. The unit ensures that all members receive the required training to maintain their certifications through a six-month In-Service training cycle. The Training Unit is responsible for the agency’s Drivers Training, Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Taser, and CPR training. The Training Unit Facility hosts additional student sessions for sworn training classes which includes live role-playing scenarios and virtual weapons training. 

Since much of policing an area the size of Marion County puts agency personnel behind the wheel of agency vehicles, the Sheriff's Office takes the training of employees assigned agency vehicles very seriously. The Training Unit offers real-world, behind the wheel training designed to enhance the driving skills and vehicle familiarization to its employees.

Our Field Training Program gives new patrol and detention deputies the foundation and fundamental skills they need in high liability areas to succeed in Patrol or in the Jail. Training is a total of 14 weeks for Patrol and 8 weeks for Detention to be able to be a well-rounded Deputy Sheriff with our Agency.

The Training Unit is responsible for managing sponsored academy recruits for the agency. Our new hires complete their training as deputy sheriffs at our local Criminal Justice Academy, under the watchful eye of the Training Unit Director who monitors their progress and training. That direct connection helps with the transition to their new and permanent position