WINNEMUCCA — In an effort to both educate and inform the public as to what law enforcement personnel actually do on a day-to-day basis, this upcoming September, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will be putting on its first “Citizens’ Academy”.  This Academy will run for six weeks and will be conducted on Wednesday evenings, starting Wednesday, September 1, 2010, and concluding on Wednesday, October 7, 2010.  The classes will run for just over three hours each Wednesday starting at 6 pm.

Citizens’ Academy participants will be selected by the Sheriff through an application process.  Those submitting applications to attend need to be at least 18 years of age, with no felony convictions.  Applicants will need to agree to have a brief background check conducted on them prior to the start of the Academy.

Courses will be taught by various members of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as local law enforcement professionals from outside of the office.  Examples of some of the courses that will be presented are:

-           History of the Sheriff’s Office

-           Basic Nevada Law

-           Sex Crimes/Sex Offender Issues

-           Domestic Abuse

-           Traffic Law Enforcement/Crash Investigations

-           Drug Investigations

-           The truth behind real crime scene investigations

Citizens’ Academies have been held by law enforcement agencies across the United States dating back to the late 1980’s. 

For those who have always had an interest in what the job of a law enforcement professional really entails, this will be a great opportunity to gain some very basic knowledge and education. 

Applications will be available at the front counter of the Sheriff’s Office, located inside the Courthouse (50 West 5^th Street in Winnemucca) starting on Thursday, April 1, 2010.  All applications will need to be turned back into the Sheriff’s Office no later than 5 pm on Friday, May 14, 2010.