Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is now taking applications for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Academy, to be held in our Bend office. This 10-week course is designed to give attendees a very in-depth look at the different divisions of the Sheriff’s Office and educate the public about what your Sheriff’s Office does and is responsible for. Included in the training will be a section covering use of deadly force and the subsequent investigation and case resolution.

In addition to the classroom instruction, participants can go out on patrol ride-a-long, and tour the 911/Dispatch Center as well as the Deschutes County Jail. There are also two optional Saturday sessions; participants can experience Emergency Vehicle Operations (EVOC) during one session and Range 3000 (an interactive use of force video training program) during the other.

The academy is scheduled every Wednesday night from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm, starting March 3rd and continuing through May 12th, 2010. Dinner is provided each week a half hour prior to class, and there is no cost to attend this academy.

The deadline for receiving applications is February 15^th, 2010.

Interested persons can pick up an application at the main Sheriff’s Office in Bend at 63333 West Highway 20, Bend, Oregon 97701. Additional information and an on-line application can also be found at www.sheriff.deschutes.org. (Click on “Community” and then select “Citizen’s Academy).

Please contact or direct any questions to

Laura Conard, Community Policing Coordinator, 383-4431.