March 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department is welcoming its first ever certified female deputy.
Deputy Jasmine Garza, who began working for the sheriff’s department as a correctional officer in 2019, earned her officer certification at Walter State Community College Police Academy and graduated last Friday, March 25.
“I would like to welcome Deputy Garza who is our first certified female deputy at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray. “She worked in corrections at the jail for some time and then worked her way up to jail corporal. She was later promoted as a deputy. Deputy Garza graduated from the Walter State Community College Police Academy last Friday where she had stayed nine weeks for their training course. Chief Deputy Robert Patrick and I went to the graduation last Friday and spoke to many of her instructors and they gave her high praise and compliments while we were there. We are very fortunate to have her on as a deputy,” said Sheriff Ray.
“I graduated high school here in 2017 and started my career at the jail in 2019 as a correctional officer. In 2020 I was promoted to jail corporal until I got sent in January 2022 to the academy. I am now certified and looking forward to getting started,” said Deputy Garza.
“I believe Deputy Garza will be great for recruiting more females into law enforcement as certified officers. She also comes with another great benefit to our department for victims of crime who are females and also for children who are victims of crime. It’s a lot easier for women and children to talk to a female officer versus a male officer so this gives us a great opportunity for that. We are glad to have her on board and we welcome her here,” Sheriff Ray concluded.