Location: Sheriff's Headquarters, 833 S. Akers St., Visalia

Incident Date: 5/29/18

Incident Time: 0830

City: Visalia

Posted by: Media Relations

Third Sheriff's Pathways Scholarship recipient sworn in

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux swore in three new hires Tuesday, May 29, 2018. They are:

Sheriff's Deputy Trainee Joseph Banda

Detention Services Officer Olivia Arellano

Graphic Specialist Renee Mason

Sheriff Boudreaux wished them well and welcomed them into the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office family.

One of the three new employees, Sheriff’s Deputy Trainee Banda, is the third Sheriff’s Pathways Scholarship recipient to be sworn in at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Two Pathways Scholars preceded him. They are Deputy Jasmine Orozco and Deputy Hector Negrete.

Sheriff Boudreaux started the Pathways Scholarship program four years ago as a way to encourage his Explorers to go to college and become Deputies. The goal is to put local youth back in their hometown communities as Sheriff’s Deputies after graduation from college and training in the police academy with funding through the Sence Foundation.

“I’m very proud of the program,” Sheriff Boudreaux said. “It creates stake holders in the community and in the department.”

As Deputy Trainee Banda’s father, Jose Banda, pinned his son’s badge on him, Sheriff Boudreaux, and Kim Oviatt of the Sence Foundation looked on. A few moments later, Mr. Oviatt spoke during the ceremony. 

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Sence Foundation, congratulations and good luck,” he said.

Deputy Trainee Banda became a Sheriff’s Explorer when he was 14 years old. He graduated from Porterville High School in 2014. On May 11, 2018, he graduated from Porterville College with an associate’s degree in Administrative Justice. 

He said he’s the first in his family to go to college and the first in his family to go into law enforcement.

In August, he will attend the police academy. 

“I’m excited to start my career in law enforcement,” he said. 

Anyone, ages 14-21, who is interested in becoming a Sheriff’s Explorer, please contact Lt. Harold Liles at (559) 782-6852.