Training

Joining the ranks of the Richmond County Sheriff's office is a high honor and will be an extremely challenging, but very rewarding, step on your career path. Candidates interested in becoming a peace officer in Georgia must complete an application with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) prior to enrolling in the Georgia Public Safety Training Center’s (GPSTC) Basic Law Enforcement Training Program.

Upon meeting or completing the pre-requisites, candidates may enroll in GPSTC’s Basic Law Enforcement Training, a rigorous program consisting of 408 course hours taught over 11 weeks. Candidates who  complete the program are eligible for POST certification and for employment as an entry-level law enforcement officer.

In Georgia, the peace officer certification process is regulated by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). Therefore, some of the processes and paperwork you must complete will be through POST, while others will be completed directly through the GPSTC regional academy where you will receive your training.

Most Richmond County candidates will attend the CSRA Police Academy in Richmond County (Blythe). However, other academies around the state may be used.

Further Training

Upon completion of the academy, candidates will receive an additional three weeks of training at the RCSO Training Center. Training will continue during your first assignment at one of the Two Uniformed Precincts. Here candidates will be assigned a certified Field Training Officer for hands-on training, which will last about 12 weeks.

Once candidates complete field training they will begin working solo. However, training is ongoing through evaluations and follow-up training. New employees have a probationary period of  12 months of employment with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.