Hendry Sheriff's Academy Opens

CITIZENS ACADEMY - AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT SHERIFF'S OFFICE

The Hendry County Sheriff’s Citizen Academy is an exciting 10-week program that provides participants with an up-close look at the Hendry County Sheriffs’ Office. Class applications are now being accepted for the fifth Sheriff’s Citizens Academy scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 from 7-9pm.

Participants meet one evening a week for 10 weeks. This instruction provides its participants with the latest trends and procedures in law enforcement as well as the duties and responsibilities of the various departments. The Citizens Academy is an educational and informative program that allows citizens the opportunity to learn about the issues that affect law enforcement efforts in Hendry County. Participants will get to have the opportunity to fire a gun, and ride with a deputy on patrol. They’ll also get to see a SWAT demonstration, K-9 demonstrations, and participate in hands-on exercises, such as processing a crime scene.

The Citizens Academy is great for anyone over the age of 18 and it’s FREE. All participants must have a background free of felony and violent misdemeanor convictions. If you are interested and wish to learn more about the field of law enforcement in general and about the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office please let us know.

Graduates of the Citizen Academy acquire a better understanding of the Hendry County Sheriffs’ Office operations and responsibilities. They gain greater awareness and appreciation of the difficult challenges and decisions a deputy sheriff faces every day. “Community involvement is the most powerful force any law enforcement agency has in the fight against crime. Through the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy, citizens become more involved in making Hendry County a better place to live”, said Sheriff Steve Whidden.

Sheriff Whidden and his staff are excited about this program and would encourage those interested in attending the Sheriffs Citizens Academy to stop in and pick up an application, fill it out, and return it. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy call Lt. Susan Harrelle at 863-674-5604.