The Washington County Sheriff's Office is tapping into a new resource to help keep the Dixie area safe: retired law enforcement officers.

With the passage of a federal law that allows retired law enforcement personnel to carry concealed weapons, the sheriff's office thinks they will be a great crime-fighting tool.

"Living in a retirement area, we interact with retired law enforcement on a daily basis," Washington County Sheriff's Lt. Jake Adams said Friday.

HR218 was signed by President Bush in 2004. With its passage, the sheriff's office has put together a concealed firearms certification course for retired officers. The legal requirements include a photo ID and a letter from their agency that says they retired in good standing. After that, the retired officer will undergo a 25-round shooting exam and skills assessment.

While it is not too different from the average person obtaining a concealed weapons permit, Adams said there are some big advantages to certifying retired police officers.

"They are more versed in weapons laws and use of force," he said.

Already, the Washington County Sheriff's Office has had several retired police officers go through the course to gain the certification. They hope to expand it to other retired officers who settle in the area.

"The philosophy you'll see in police officers — they want to make the community better today than it was yesterday," Adams said.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com