30 Fresno State grads set to become Fresno County reserve deputies

The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is preparing to swear in 30 Fresno State graduates as reserve deputies on Wednesday at Fresno State.

As they graduate college and work toward their goal of becoming a sworn law enforcement officer, reserve deputies perform essential functions such as transporting and guarding inmates, assist sworn deputies on patrol and work special detail at community events, sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said. The graduates are from Fresno State’s Criminology 108 program, which has partnered with the Sheriff’s Office since 1959.

The program prepares young men and women for a career in law enforcement, Botti said. It’s the only one of its kind offered at any community college or state university in California. High-ranking law enforcement officers including current Fresno County Undersheriff Steve Wilkins have gone through the program.

The new reserve deputies will be sworn during a ceremony that begins at 5 p.m. inside the Satellite Student Union, where a total of 38 students will graduate the sheriff’s academy.

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 7:20 AM with the headline "30 Fresno State grads set to become Fresno County reserve deputies."