NEWS RELEASE 24-053 - NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Pictured left to right: (Back Row) Corrections Deputies Scott Sichling, Nicholas Scott, Jared Johnson,
Ariel Furtak, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman (Front Row) Corrections Deputies Leonardo Ramirez, Cody Ogden, Andrew Jack

On Thursday, families, friends, and agency members gathered at the sheriff’s headquarters to celebrate the seven newest recruits of the Courts and Corrections Division following their 13-week, 420-hour academy class. The recruits were trained in physical fitness, firearms, defensive tactics, first aid, legal, officer safety, correctional supervision, as well as emergency response, communications, and familiarization with the agency’s facility and equipment.

Agency personnel worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice Standards Training Commission to bring the Corrections Training Academy to the sheriff’s office. This move required the agency to ensure compliance and training parameters were met before course work could begin, “but it was worth it in the long run,” said Captain Vajdik, who also serves as the academy director, “as we are able to best prepare recruits specifically for the values and expectations of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.”

“We’re grateful to Sheriff Hoffman and the command staff for championing the vision to host our own correctional training academy,” Major Brian Meinberg of the Courts and Corrections Division said, “and to the correctional training staff for managing the daily operations of this inaugural class…with many more to come.”

“I’m proud of this accomplishment,” Sheriff Hoffman said, “not only for our ability to host this academy, but for the dedication and effort of both the recruits and their training staff.”

The seven graduates included: Class President & Corrections Deputy Leonardo Ramirez, Class Vice President & Corrections Deputy Nicholas Scott, Corrections Deputy Ariel Furtak, Corrections Deputy Andrew Jack, Corrections Deputy Jared Johnson, Corrections Deputy Cody Ogden, and Corrections Deputy Scott Sichling.

Following their graduation, the corrections deputies will be assigned to the corrections bureaus where they will continue their training.