Saint Leo University partners with Madison County Sheriff’s Office

Saint Leo University has announced a professional working agreement with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office is now a community partner with Saint Leo, and the university will be an educational provider offering sheriff’s office personnel undergraduate and graduate college courses and academic services. Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart’s intent with this partnership is to continue to increase the motivation of employees as they may choose to expand their educational knowledge and personal development, he said. Saint Leo University offers accredited associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs with flexibility and convenience for the working adult learner. This partnership offers benefits for Madison County Sheriff’s Office employees that include an application fees waiver, tuition discounts and advising services. The sheriff’s office will promote Saint Leo University’s educational opportunities to its employees through office newsletters, the human resources department, its web site and the display of Saint Leo University literature. The sheriff’s office has several divisions: Patrol; Investigative; School Resource; and Civil/Bailiff. There also are several specialized units within the sheriff’s office including four K-9 units, the SWAT Team, and a Marine unit. The office is supplemented with a 20-member Reserve Deputy Unit and a 15-member Posse Unit to assist in a voluntary capacity. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office provides communications services to all public safety agencies in Madison County through the Sheriff’s Office Communications Center. The office also manages the only jail for Madison County, a 120-bed facility staffed by 28 sworn correctional deputies. “We are pleased to welcome this new community partner, which will work collaboratively with Saint Leo University,” said Dr. Edward Dadez, vice president, Division of Continuing Education, Saint Leo University. “This process is essential to cultivating new relationships with external organizations for the university and aids in building a stronger sense of community and independence for our students and graduates.” Saint Leo University’s Madison Education Center is located on the North Florida Community College campus at 325 N.W. Turner Davis Drive, Madison, Fl. 32340. For information, call (850) 973-3356. For information about the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, go to http://www.mcso-fl.org/.