News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will host its Citizens Police Academy once again this year.
The program offers an in-depth look at how the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office operates. Sheriff Eddie Farris said participants will gain hands-on experience through demonstrations in certain areas of the Office.
“Things that we’ll be doing is obviously talking about K-9,” Farris said. “Doing demonstrations, SWAT, tour the jail, actually be involved in a crime scene, drug investigation work.”
Farris said participants will also get the opportunity to go to a firing range and see the various weapons the officers are trained to handle on a day-to-day basis. They also have the opportunity to go for a ride-along, which Farris said is the reason for a minimum age requirement of 21.
Farris said all citizens are welcome to attend as long as they meet requirements.
“Everyone who attends will have to go through and have to pass an extensive background check,” Farris said. “If you have a prior felony or record, or so on and so forth you’re unable to attend. You also have to be a United States citizen.”
Farris said that the program is for those who are looking to get into law enforcement, or simply for average citizens who want to understand how a sheriff’s office operates.
The program started in 2015, and Farris said it has been successful every year. While they typically host it once a year, Farris said he hope they can increase that and host it more often.
Citizens Academy will start August 19th and run for 10 weeks every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Farris said they also provide dinner for those who attend.
The deadline for applications is Monday, July 19th.
