New deputy hired

The Mineral County Sheriff’s Department has been able to use funds provided through the Cops Grant to fill a position left vacant. Local resident Adam Cole was named as a deputy within the department a couple weeks ago and says he’s ready.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Cole said of his appointment.

Cole came to live in Mineral County two years ago. After graduating high school in Polson, he traveled down to California where he stayed for awhile. While down there, his uncle, who works as a patrol sergeant, recommended to his nephew that he should get into a reserve program part time. Upon returning to Lake County, Cole did that and served as a reserve deputy for a year. Following that, he went and worked in the detention center in Lake County for seven months.

“Then they sent me to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy where I graduated,” Cole said.

While at the academy, Cole earned a Rick Day award for class inspiration. Also while he was there  attending, he met some individuals from the Department of Corrections Boot Camp for felons and so he ended up spending little over a year there as a drill inspector supervising over 60 inmates. He also served as a reserve deputy.

From there, Cole attended the Probation and Parole Academy and then took a job as a probation officer in Mineral County. He also served the county as a reserve deputy for two years. Cole also got involved with Mineral County Search and Rescue and has served as vice president for a year. While living in Mineral County, Cole met and married his wife.

When the position for deputy opened up, Cole applied and was selected for the job. Cole said he’s excited to be joining the team.

“Being a deputy is an individual job and it’s also a team job,” he said. “I like being out there and getting to meet people, out walking the streets talking to business owners and I’d also like to work in the schools.”

Cole said that the job itself is a roller coaster of adrenaline. He said that it takes a certain type of person to perform the job as well.

“It’s an up and down thing,” Cole explained. “One moment you’ll be sitting at your desk and the next, you’re racing to a fight in progress. It’s an A-personality job. You have to be able to communicate with people.”

With more than 500 hours of training, Cole said he’s ready to step in and help the department where needed.

“We’re coming into a new sheriff and I’m looking forward to just see what happens,” Cole said.

As for staying in Mineral County, Cole said that he hopes him and his wife have many more years in the community.

“We’d like to raise a family here. We enjoy fly-fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and we just love the area. I think we’d get lost in a big city,” Cole said. “We like walking into a grocery store and the people know your name, you can joke with them and have a good time.”

As for his career, Cole said that his ultimate goal is to work on a drug force task team. He encouraged anyone to talk to him at any time to and to share any concerns they may have.

“I’m easy to talk to and I like to talk,” Cole said. “I’d like to get to know the public more and any concerns they have.”