OVERVIEW

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department's Citizen's Academy will provide citizens with an inside look at local law enforcement. The fifteen week academy is designed to give citizens an overview of our department's policies and procedures. The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to the traditional police academy, but the weekly sessions are not designed to make the participant a deputy sheriff.

During the academy, students will be introduced to our Community Oriented Problem Solving Program, K-9 unit, and participate in a firearms demonstration with SWAT. Other topics include: police ethics, communications, drug enforcement and education, criminal law, the correctional system and all of our investigation units including: CSI, Coroner, Violent Crimes, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault, Narcotics, Intelligence Unit and more.

Academy classes are taught by sheriff's executives and veteran personnel. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with the Sheriff and staff members. They are encouraged to ask questions and to express their concerns to sheriff's employees. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department hopes there will be a greater awareness and understanding of law enforcement's role in the community through the education provided by the Citizen's Academy.

Academy Schedule

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department offers a spring and fall session of the Citizen's Academy. The length of each academy is fifteen weeks. Classes meet Wednesday evenings (with the exception of one Saturday afternoon) from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, 2796 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa.

The majority of the program is based on lecture by the various resident experts in their field. There will be a Saturday class with the Bomb and Canine units off-site, and a "field trip" by bus to our Helicopter Unit and North Co. Detention Facility.

Participant Requirements

Potential Candidates for the citizen's academy must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum age of 18 years
• Community members must live or work in the Sonoma County area
• No prior felony convictions
• No misdemeanor arrests withing the last twelve months
• Any of the above listed requirements may be waived upon review and approval of the Sheriff

Civic groups and community organization members are encouraged to apply. The names are then placed on a waiting list. Enrollment is limited to approximately twenty students per academy.

For more information
please call the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department
Training Unit at (707) 565-8882