Butler County Sheriff's Office

[Public Info Officer]

For Immediate Release… July 31, 2006

Sheriff to Conduct Second “Citizen Academy”

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones announces the Sheriff’s Office Training Division will host the second 12-week “Sheriff’s Citizen Academy” on Tuesdays from 6:30PM to 9:30PM beginning September 12, 2006 through November 28, 2006. The academy program is designed to provide a working knowledge and background of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. It explains the various aspects of the Sheriff’s responsibilities using classroom discussions and hands-on participation, and exposes an overview of the talents, skills, diversity, and quality of your Sheriff’s Office. Specifically, the Citizen's Police Academy is designed to:
• Instruct residents about the operation of the Sheriff’s Office – Awareness Training
• Develop relationships through personal contacts between citizens and deputies.
• Prepare citizens to volunteer in their community and arm them with the knowledge about their government to make informed decisions about their environment.
Some of the topics and activities in which Academy attendees will participate include: an Overview of the Sheriff’s Office; Relationships with Other Law Enforcement Agencies; the Judicial System; Patrol Operations (including a ride-along with a patrol deputy); Criminal Investigations/Evidence Collection; Domestic Violence; Child Abuse; Sex Offender Registration; Traffic Control Enforcement/Investigation; D.A.R.E.; TRIAD; School Resource Officer; Aviation, K-9; S.W.A.T.; and Corrections (Jail).
Instructors are chosen for their knowledge and experience in their particular areas of work. The Academy is not intended to train citizens to be officers, but rather to inform them accurately about the profession and the roles that citizens can, and should, play.
Requirements for attending a Citizen Police Academy include the following:
• Resident of, or employee working in, Butler County.
• Minimum of 18 years of age.
• No pending criminal court actions or outstanding warrants.
• Satisfactory Background Check.
• Commitment to 12 consecutive Tuesday evenings.
There is no cost to attend the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy. The class is limited to the first 24 citizens who apply and meet all qualifications and there are a few spaces available. The project is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Justice grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. You may apply for the Citizen Police Academy by calling Lt. Jean Collett at 785-1007, or by completing the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy Application on line at http://butlersheriff.org.

Prepared by: Sgt. Monte Mayer
Public Information Officer
Dep. Steve Vollmar
Training Division