The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a 24-week community academy for area residents. Participants will receive information on different aspects of law enforcement and public safety in a classroom setting, as well as having several hands-on learning opportunities. This is a chance to gain a better understanding of the role law enforcement plays in our community.

Participants will meet Thursday evenings from September 23, 2021, through March 17, 2022, with breaks for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Some of the topics to be covered include:

Patrol, Criminal and death investigations, Disaster management, Identity theft and forensic computer investigations, Search and Rescue, Demonstrations including K9, SWAT, and bomb disposal, Hands-on training including defensive tactics and tactical decision making and tours of the Communications Center and Jail.

The academy is open to citizens 18 years of age or older; individuals with prior felony convictions or a misdemeanor conviction within the past year are excluded from participation. The class will be limited to 25 students.

Applications must be turned into the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office by 4 p.m. on September 10, 2021. There is a $30 fee which covers an academy polo shirt and classroom materials. Applications and additional information can be found on the Sheriff’s Office website at: boco.org/ SheriffCommunityAcademy.

Questions about the community academy may be directed to Commander Heathman at jheathman@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-3776 or Academy Coordinator Hershman at dhershman@bouldercounty.org.