The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office launched its first, full-time Basic Police Officer Course with 20 cadets Oct. 2. The BPOC is unlike previous peace-officer licensing courses the office has offered in the past, as students in the BPOC are paid cadets slated for patrol division deployment, according to a statement released by the sheriff’s office, Oct. 4. Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson presented the BPOC as part of his strategic plan to address the need for additional patrol personnel earlier this year, which was supported by the Montgomery County Commissioners Court. “We are able to articulate the needs for these positions to the court with sound date and a comprehensive multi-year plan,” Henderson said in a statement. “Getting this academy up and running with a group of motivated cadets who are up to the challenges that they will face in preparation for patrol duties is exciting for all of us.” The inaugural class will graduate March 1, 2018 and will begin the 16-week Field Training Program across three patrol precincts immediately after. For more information bout the BPOC, click here.