Grants Pass Police Department will soon welcome a new patrol officer onto city streets as Devin Pine returns home after graduating from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Basic Police Academy on June 20. The ceremony in Salem marked the end of a demanding 16-week residential course that introduces recruits from agencies across the state to the fundamentals of modern policing. Participants are immersed in criminal and traffic law, defensive tactics, firearms proficiency, emergency vehicle operations, crisis intervention, scenario-based decision-making and rigorous physical conditioning. Coursework is structured to give recruits a balanced blend of classroom instruction and realistic practical exercises designed to prepare them for the unpredictable challenges of patrol work.
Pine, who was hired by Grants Pass Police earlier this year, joined dozens of fellow graduates representing municipal departments, sheriffs’ offices and state agencies. The completion certificate signifies that each recruit has met Oregon’s minimum standards for knowledge, skill and character, but graduation is only the midpoint of Pine’s journey to full certification. Beginning next week, she will enter the Field Training and Evaluation Program conducted by senior officers in Grants Pass. Over the next three to four months, Pine will ride on shift with experienced trainers who systematically expose her to day-to-day patrol duties—handling calls for service, conducting traffic stops, writing reports, mediating disputes and coordinating with fire and medical crews. Each phase emphasizes incremental independence; by the final segment, she should be operating a patrol car solo while an evaluator silently observes.
Grants Pass Police sets a high bar for new officers by layering the field program on top of the state academy. Supervisors track daily performance through standardized task lists and narrative assessments, ensuring new hires can apply academy lessons to real-world encounters without compromising public safety. Recruits cannot progress to full probationary status until they demonstrate consistent competence in officer safety, legal articulation, community engagement and ethical decision-making. The department notes that the process is both evaluative and educational, giving trainees additional coaching in report writing, digital evidence management and regional resources unique to Southern Oregon.
Pine’s arrival comes at a moment when police departments nationwide are working to strengthen community trust and broaden the diversity of their ranks. While Grants Pass is smaller than urban agencies, its leadership maintains that welcoming qualified individuals from varied backgrounds helps reflect the community it serves. Graduates like Pine will soon contribute to staffing levels that allow the city to maintain its commitment to 24-hour patrol coverage, proactive problem-solving and participation in regional task forces. Her progress through training also illustrates the lengthy pipeline required to place a fully certified officer on the street, an investment measured not only in academy tuition and equipment but in the mentoring hours donated by seasoned personnel.
Following successful completion of field training, Pine will remain on probation for the balance of her first year, a period during which supervisors continue to monitor performance and provide feedback. At the one-year mark, she will be eligible for solo assignment without restrictions, joining veteran colleagues in answering the roughly 40,000 calls for service the department handles annually. Grants Pass Police leaders emphasize that the learning never stops; officers attend mandatory in-service sessions and optional advanced courses throughout their careers to stay current on evolving laws, technology and best practices.
For now, the focus shifts to integrating Pine into the rhythms of patrol life in Josephine County’s largest city. Residents can expect to see her alongside training officers at community events, on neighborhood patrol and responding to calls beginning later this month. Her successful graduation underscores the department’s ongoing effort to recruit, train and retain professionals dedicated to safeguarding the people of Grants Pass.