Sheriff Rod Mitchell (right) honored Det. Corey Paulich with awards for safe driving and marksmanship. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Sheriff Rod Mitchell recently welcomed new employees to his department and recognized tenured employees for promotions and achievements.

Lt. Cecil Brown reported that the ceremony took place May 9.

During his remarks at the ceremony, Sheriff Mitchell encouraged all employees to remember that they work for decent, law-abiding people, who deserve their best efforts, Brown noted.

All sheriff’s department employees stood and recited the Oath of Office, reaffirming their commitment to public service, according to Brown's report.

Mitchell welcomed the following new employees: Deputy Gary Frace, Deputy Frank Walsh, Correctional Officer Walter White, Correctional Officer Jeri Shaw, Correctional Officer James Dunlap, Correctional Officer Dave Gudmundson, Communications Operator Amber Peak, Communications Operator Michelle Wells, Communications Operator Anna Silva, Communications Operator Bobbi Bruck, Cook Michelle Reed and Secretary I Jan Bosse.

Several employees had been promoted in last year. Deputy Carla Hockett, Deputy Michael Pascoe and Detective Brian Kenner were promoted from deputy sheriff I to deputy sheriff II. Correctional Officer Tye Hockett was promoted from correctional officer I to correctional officer II. Deputy Ben Moore was promoted from correctional officer I to deputy sheriff I.

Mitchell expressed gratitude to the Board of Supervisors for their help in filling difficult to fill positions.

The board recently authorized eight additional correctional officer positions, Brown reported. Those positions will allow correctional officers to attend the basic academy and return as deputy sheriffs, without lowering staffing levels in the correctional facility.

Also honored at the May 9 ceremony were deputies who had shown above-average skill with firearms, reported Brown. Accurately and consistently scoring hits with a handgun requires skill and discipline. Deputy Gary Frace, Deputy Ben Moore and Lieutenant Rob Howe earned a Master pin at the last handgun qualification. Detective Brian Kenner, Detective Corey Paulich and Deputy Frank Walsh

earned an Expert pin at the last handgun qualification.

Deputy sheriffs operate vehicles at night, in poor weather and sometimes at high speed. Avoiding collisions requires great care and shows stewardship of public property. Detective Nikki Costanza, Detective Brian Kenner and Detective Corey Paulich were awarded the Safe Driving Award for five years of service without a vehicle accident, Brown reported.

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