Law enforcement students at Valencia College not worried about pay

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office plans to hire 220 deputies next year, which is good news for the dozens of people at Valencia College hoping to get a job in law enforcement.

School leaders said recruitment is not a problem, but it takes months to get through the academy, and some won’t get a chance to sit behind the wheel of a patrol car.

Former Orlando City Soccer goal keeper Tally Hall is one of 40 current recruits working up a sweat at Valencia College’s Law Enforcement Academy.

“I’m looking forward to using fitness to benefit to help the city out,” Hall said.

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Some already have jobs lined up, and for those who don’t, there’s hope.

Of the 220 deputies the Orange County Sheriff’s Office plans to hire next year, 20 of the positions will be created with the help of a federal grant.

Since then, the Department of Justice awarded Ormond Beach and Apopka police departments grant money to hire more officers.

“That is our future that’s going to protect this Central Florida community. We have got to be the best,” said Jeff Goltz, the School of Public Safety executive dean.

He said that typically, a third of every class won’t make it either academically or due to injury.

Student Jennifer Dippel said failure is not an option.

“I’ve always wanted to take an active role to help people. I’ve always loved the challenge,” said Dippel said.

The starting salary for an Orlando police officer is $45,000.

Orange County deputies start at about $40,000, while in Seminole County, deputies start at $41,000.

But pay is not a factor for many of the students.

“Obviously, as public officials, we want to be appreciated for what we do, but the calling to serve was the priority, not the pay,” Hall said.

For the ones that graduate and get hired, there’s still weeks of training at the agency they work for before they can patrol the streets.

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