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Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight has announced that another member of his man- agement staff has graduated from The Florida Sheriffs Institute Commanders Academy. Capt. Charlie Thorpe, commander of the Investigations Bureau, completed the Academy last week at the Florida Sheriffs Association headquarters in Tallahassee. "Thorpe quickly emerged as one of the class leaders and was elected president by his peers," a news release says. "He also estab- lished what is expected to become a tradition for subsequent classes: a moment of silence at the Fallen Deputies Memorial Wall followed by the Pledge of Allegiance." The Academy was designed by the sheriffs to ensure that members of their command staffs have the background and training to carry out their responsibilities, the release explains. The program was developed in con- junction with the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. "Participation in The Commanders Academy is beneficial to graduates, our agency and the community," said Knight in the release. "Management regularly faces complex deci- sions where this kind of leadership and professional development really makes a difference." The intensive training included 64 hours of curriculum in June and July, the release notes. Topics included leadership, ethics, legislative affairs, effective discipline, labor and personnel issues, fiscal administration, the civil process, courthouse security and jail management. Maj. Paul Richard and Capt. Jon Goetluck graduated from the inaugural class of the Academy in 2013, the release adds. % SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAPTAIN GRADUATES FROM COMMANDERS ACADEMY Capt. Charlie Thorpe/Contributed photo Share stories by clicking the icon in the menubar and choosing to share via e-mail, post to Facebook or Twitter, or many other sharing options. QUICK TIP Sarasota News Leader July 18, 2014 Page 77