Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to Offer a Citizens Sheriff’s Academy
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Shelby County Law Enforcement Foundation will offer a Citizens Sheriff’s Academy twice a year in the Spring and Fall. The Citizens Sheriff’s Academy is a 12-week program designed to introduce and educate citizens to the various law enforcement practices and procedures of the Sheriff’s Office including criminal investigations, laws and the court system, uniform/patrol division, drug task force, tactical response unit, and other special units of the Sheriff’s Office. Included in the program will be a tour of the county jail, an opportunity to “ride-along” on patrol with a Deputy Sheriff, and an opportunity to receive basic firearms safety training and use the Sheriff’s Office firearms range.
The academy is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who lives or works in Shelby County. Due to the nature of the Academy and the topics/activities presented, all applicants to the program are subject to a criminal background check and driver’s license check conducted by the Sheriff’s Office as a condition for acceptance into the program. Classes will be held every Thursday evening from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Training Center on McDow Road in Columbiana, AL.
Class size is limited to 25 students. For Academy registration information visit the Sheriff’s Office website at www.myshelbyso.com. For additional information regarding the Academy, contact Lt. Dennis Blackerby at dblackerby@shelbyso.com or Don Radtke at
dradtke@shelbyso.com.