GREAT FALLS — The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office is planning its second "Citizen Academy," designed for residents of Cascade County to learn about the agency and its people.
The free program allows attendees to get an inside look at the Sheriff’s Office and the different roles and responsibilities of sworn deputies, civilian employees, and detention officers.
During the 8-week academy, attendees will see what they do to help make our community safe, tour the jail, participate in a ride-along, and even get some hands-on experience with the tools and equipment they use.
Course curriculum includes:
- Uniformed patrol
- Legal/Courts
- Investigations
- D.U.I. recognition
- Coroner Duties
- SWAT operations
- Driving techniques
- Firearms/Use of Force/Taser training
- Detention Facility and Operations
- Volunteer Opportunities
Participants must be 18 years or older and able to attend the 8-week academy, comprised of Thursday evening classes and one Saturday class. A background check is performed on all applicants. Applications are due no later than Friday, January 24th.
Undersheriff Cory Reeves says they are now accepting applications for the 2020 Spring Citizens Academy, which begins Thursday, March 12th. Space is limited to 35 people.
If you have any questions, please contact Lt. Landon Koteskey, Academy Coordinator, at 406-454-7689. All eligible applicants who successfully graduate from our academy will receive a graduation certificate and a concealed weapons permit.
Click here to download an application (PDF).
The first Citizen Academy was held several months ago; when that class "graduated" in late October, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said that while working in law enforcement is a tough job, seeing citizens in the class reminds them why they love their jobs: "I think what this academy does for a lot of our staff is it rejuvenates them. They remember who they work for. They remember why they do all this hard work.”
