NCSO Press Release
Submitted by Bill Leeper, Sheriff
(904) 225-0331
October 19, 2015 3:00 p.m.
Sheriff Bill Leeper has announced the graduation of the 4th Law Enforcement Citizens Academy at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. NCSO’s Citizen Law Enforcement Academy is an educational and informative program that allows Nassau citizens the opportunity to learn about the issues that face law enforcement in our community. The program provides insight into the philosophy and operations of the Sheriff’s Office. The program also helps citizens better understand police work in their community, and develops stronger ties between our community and the Sheriff’s Office.
“The Citizen Academy program is another mechanism for the Sheriff’s Office to inform the public of what we do, improve communication, and obtain citizen input, assistance, and support throughout the community by sharing information” said Sheriff Bill Leeper.
The 9 week program gives adults a behind the scenes look at Sheriff’s Office operations through hands-on participation and expert speakers. It’s conducted in a classroom setting, as well as “in-the-field” utilizing instructors from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.
The Citizen’s Academy is designed to provide members of the community with the opportunity to gain specific knowledge about the workings of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and a general insight into the field of law enforcement. The program is informational only and does not train or promote citizens to act in a law enforcement capacity.
Classes include a tour of NCSO’s facilities and virtually every aspect of a deputy’s job including patrol operations, traffic enforcement, hostage negotiations, vice & narcotics, crime scene investigations, corrections and 9-1-1 communications dispatch. Students also watch a K-9 demonstration and visit the Firearms Range to take part in weapons safety training. Participants learn what takes place behind the badge at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
The Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy is free of charge and is held on consecutive Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and one Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, located at 76001 Bobby Moore Circle, Yulee, Florida.
Class size is limited and all applicants will be screened through a routine criminal background check prior to their acceptance into the program. Deadline for applications is two weeks prior to the beginning of the class.
The 5th Citizen Academy class will be starting in January, 2016. For further information, contact the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Human Resources Department or Larry Boatwright (Volunteer Coordinator) at (904) 548-4027 or [email protected].
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