OTSEGO COUNTY — The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department has hired a new deputy. Jackson Jones has been working for the department since the middle of January.

Jones, 25, grew up in Holly and graduated from Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes high school before enlisting in the Army. During his 2012 to 2016 enlistment, Jones served as an infantryman. That experience in the Army is what ultimately led him to pursue a career in law enforcement.

“When I got out of the military, I worked various jobs,” Jones said. “But I missed the camaraderie of the military and started looking at law enforcement positions.”

Law enforcement would seem to be a natural fit for Jones. He said he has multiple family members that work in the field downstate. After earning his associate degree from North Central Michigan College (NCMC), Jones graduated from the Kirtland Regional Police Academy on Dec. 7. He applied for the open deputy position at the sheriff’s department in October while he was still in the police academy, and received the call offering him the job less than two weeks after graduating. His familiarity with the area from attending NCMC is what led to him apply for the position.

“I lived in Gaylord for a year while going to school and my family would always come up here when I was a kid on vacation,” he said. Coming from the Detroit area, Jones said Otsego County is different than the hustle and bustle of where he grew up, but in a good way. “Gaylord is a lot more laid back and has the feel of a close-knit community,” he said. “And it’s a scenic area, too.”

While Jones said he has enjoyed the job in his short time already, there has been a big learning curve. “It’s been a big learning process so far,” he said. “You think you have a good understanding when you get out of the academy about what the job is going to be like, but there’s a lot more to process.” Jones is currently assigned to three different deputies throughout the course of his field training program. Most of his on-the-job experience so far has dealt with traffic stops and accidents due to poor weather and driving conditions.

An outdoor recreation enthusiast, Jones enjoys fishing, shooting, snowmobiling, and anything involving outside, and plans to take advantage of all the area has to offer.

Source: Sheriff’s Department welcomes new deputy
 

Jackson Jones graduated in 2011 from of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School. He played hockey, was a member of the Prom court and voted best smile. In his senior ad, his parents wrote, “We are so proud of the compassionate person you’ve become. Your future is full of potential.”