Guthrie County’s newest deputy begins his certification process today with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Camp Dodge.

Matt Losee’s initial training will be online due to COVID-19, but Sheriff Marty Arganbright isn’t worried about his newest employee completing the certification.

“I hope that the Coronavirus lets up and they’re able to actually train at the academy. It’s the best way to do it. Online is okay for some things, but it’s better to actually get hands-on training for being a police officer, and the classroom training is really good.”

Losee will spend 15 weeks at the academy before returning as a fully certified deputy in April. Arganbright says Losee worked with 65 inmates per day at the Polk County Jail as a jailer, so that experience will be a plus for the Sheriff’s Office.