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Deputy honored for service to veterans
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A Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff is receiving a Congressional Certificate from Congressman Jeff Denham for his work with military veterans while they are in jail. 

Deputy Tim Burns is an Army veteran, serving from 2000 to 2006. Shortly after leaving the military he was hired by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff-Custodial and has been with the sheriff’s department for eight years. 

Burns is currently assigned as the Mental Health Deputy at the counties Men’s Jail, where his duties include actively identifying veterans at the time they are booked into one of the custodial facilities. He then tracks the inmate to assure all appropriate benefits and mental health care are in place for the specific needs of the veteran. 

Burns was awarded a Congressional Certificate from Congressman Denham Thursday at the Veterans Affairs office in Palo Alto. Denham lauded Burns for understanding the special needs of veterans serving time and connecting them with the appropriate services.

Some veterans in custody are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and can be helped if the appropriate resources are in place. Veterans that are not connected with Veterans Affairs will receive assistance and counseling from Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. If veterans are not already connected with Veteran Affairs, Burns routinely provides them with the information to get the care they need. He also provides assistance in getting them any information on any and all services available as a veteran, according to the sheriff’s department. 

Stanislaus County Superior Court also assists in finding programs for veterans that may help with their sentencing. Some of the programs available to veterans are drug and alcohol rehabilitation, domestic violence counseling, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder assistance. These programs not only assist with the veterans sentencing, but provide long term care.