The Rice County Sheriff’s Office proudly announces that Capt. Paul LaRoche has graduated from the School of Police Staff & Command through the Northwestern Center for Public Safety.
The 10-week course is an intensive leadership and management education program that helps prepare experienced law enforcement professionals for success in senior command positions. The program’s curriculum includes command-level content such as planning and policies, media relations, budgeting and resource allocation, human resources and contemporary policing, according to the Northwestern website.
LaRoche, a Faribault native who has served as a law enforcement officer for more than 17 years, began his career with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office in early 2008. He’s served in multiple roles during his tenure, including patrol deputy,
instructor in use-of-force topics and field training officer for new deputies.
He was a member of two regional tactical teams for nearly 10 years and from 2014-18 worked in Investigations. He was promoted to sergeant in January 2018 and by that fall was named commander of the Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force, a collaborative effort of Faribault and Northfield Police departments and the Rice and Le Sueur County Sheriff’s offices.
Promoted to captain in January 2023, LaRoche oversees the office’s patrol operations, scheduling, training, purchasing and up fitting squad cars, handling of forfeitures, and other various administrative duties.
“I appreciate Capt. LaRoche’s interest in this very difficult training program and am anxious to learn what new information, ideas and perspectives he can now bring to the Sheriff’s Office that will help improve services to the residents of Rice County,” said Sheriff Jesse Thomas.
LaRoche is the second member of the Rice County Sheriff’s Office to complete the program. Former Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn graduated from the School of Police Staff & Command in 2008.
