August 05, 2009
Teton County hires new female deputy
Aleisha Jorgensen may be the newest and the youngest member of the Teton County Sheriff’s Offi ce, but what the 21-year-old deputy lacks in years she makes up for in experience after serving as a paramedic in Las Vegas, Nev., for two years.“I’ll miss the call volume, but not the type of calls,” Jorgensen said. “I guess you could call me an adrenaline junkie.” Jorgensen has been waiting patiently in the wings to sign on with Sheriff Tony Liford’s force since February, confident her people skills were honed by Sin City, in addition to recent service with Teton County Ambulance District, as well as the local Search and Rescue team.
“In Vegas, the action was constant, but you need to be just as alert here. I know how to keep people calm, and those skills will serve me well to keep people cool in situations,” Jorgensen said. “Working for the sheriff’s department is the complete opposite of working for Emergency Medical Services. You deal with more complaints and fewer people that are hurt.”
Jorgensen grew up on a farm near Logan, Utah, and attended BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, but she seems to feel most at home in a uniform. She ski patrolled prior to her EMS work, and has sported a badge for Teton County since Monday morningher first day on patrol.
“I thought about being a deputy while I was in Vegas, but maybe not in Vegas where there were lots of shootings,” Jorgensen said. “Working on the ambulance was crazy enough. I moved to Teton Valley and everything fell into place.”
Sheriff Liford was immediately impressed with Jorgensen, along with Commissioner Kathy Rinaldi and Prosecuting Attorney Kathy Spitzer when the young deputy aced her oral boards, the first step in the process of hiring for the Sheriff’s Department.
“I was excited we had the opportunity to hire Jorgensen, and it was an added bonus she was a woman,” Liford said. “Her experience with the ambulance and Search and Rescue was certainly a factor as well.”
While enrolled at BYU-Idaho, Jorgensen worked two summers at the Treasure Mountain Boy Scout Camp in Teton Canyon as medical offi cer and area director, teaching environmental science. She has lived in Teton Valley nearly a year, during which time she served as a paramedic for Teton and Madison Counties, as well as Search and Rescue.
“If there’s an accident, technically I’m trained in dealing with all aspects,” Jorgensen said. “There are certain things that deputies need to know and other priorities for firefighters and the EMS crews.”
In addition to her responsibilities as a deputy on patrol throughout Teton County, Sheriff Liford said Jorgensen would serve as the School Resource Officer while classes are in session. When school is out, she will enter the regular rotation with other deputies.
While Jorgensen is well versed in EMS procedures, Liford said her law enforcement training will begin immediately, setting her up for Post Academy certifi cation this fall, a course she will enter with Deputy Jeremiah Jones in October. While training to become certified, Jorgensen said she will continue her education at BYU-Idaho to receive her B.S. degree in Emergency Administration Services, though she plans on sticking around Teton County.
“I love the mountains and the outdoors,” Jorgensen said. “I think I’m here for awhile. I’d like to be here for awhile.”
While Sheriff Liford said service did not suffer without a female on the force, he was happy to have Jorgensen on board to deal with female suspects or victims. By January, Liford anticipates hiring an additional deputy who is local and Postcertified.
Jorgensen’s third day on the job was sure to be long and loud, as Sheriff Liford planned on taking all his deputies to the Jackson Gun Club for a second annual firearms training. With the proper aim, Jorgensen could be one of the guys by the end of the day.
