VW sheriff completes national training

VW independent/submitted information

AURORA, Colorado — Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach of the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office completed participation in the 109th session of the National Sheriffs’ Institute (NSI) held in Aurora February 22-26.

The NSI is the only national executive development program designed for sheriffs. This no-cost program is co-sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA). Sheriff Riggenbach is the first sheriff of Van Wert County to graduate from the NSI.

Sheriff Riggenbach joined 20 other sheriffs from across the country for training on contemporary challenges facing America’s sheriffs today. In light of those challenges, the sheriffs explored the role of the local sheriff in providing effective leadership for the public good in such areas as public safety, criminal justice system policy, community relations, and organization effectiveness and efficiency.

“Sheriff Riggenbach is a leader with vision for the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office,” said Hilary Burgess, NSA manager of training. “It is an honor to have Sheriff Riggenbach join the more than 2,700 graduates of the NSI since 1973.”

The NIC is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons. It is the primary federal source of technical assistance, training, and information services for state and local corrections. NIC provides a wide variety of services to the nation’s jails, most of which are the responsibility of sheriffs.

The National Sheriff’s Association is a non-profit professional association located in Alexandria, Virginia. NSA represents the nearly 3,100 elected sheriffs across the nation and has more than 20,000 members, including law enforcement professionals, state and federal government employees, concerned citizens, students, and others.

Since 1940, the NSA has served as an information clearinghouse for law enforcement professionals. NSA also provides management training for sheriffs and their personnel in court security, crime victim services, domestic violence, homeland security initiatives, jail operations, and traffic safety.

Additionally, NSA administers the highly successful National Neighborhood Watch and Triad programs.