OC Sheriff’s Office announces 2nd Citizens Police Academy

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is inviting Oconee County residents to sign up now for the 2nd Citizens Police Academy that will give individuals a chance to experience what a day in the life of a police officer is all about. Citizens of Oconee County can sign up now for the classes at the website of the Sheriff’s Office at www.oconeelaw.com by clicking on the “Citizens Police Academy” link near the upper right portion of the website. Applications will need to be printed off and mailed to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office at 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC 29691. Those who are selected will have a chance to meet the Command Staff and many of the deputies of the Sheriff’s Office. Some of the topics covered will be patrol operations, equipment and its uses, criminal investigations, E-911 communications, SWAT team operations, plus a judicial overview by one of the local judges, information on detention and narcotics. On a Saturday during the classes, instructees will observe a SWAT team demonstration. At the conclusion of the classes, those who participate will be given a shirt, a certificate and a class photo. There is a selection process for those who sign up, which includes a background check, according to Sgt. McGowan. Sgt. McGowan is hoping to reach demographics from every occupation in Oconee County, with the class size limited to 25 due to logistic limitations. The classes will meet for 10 consecutive weeks on Tuesday evenings with one Saturday meeting for the SWAT demonstration. Participation in all the classes is important, according to Sgt. McGowan, due to the fact of the volume of information that is going to be presented. Missing two of more classes may result in a disqualification from the program. The dates for the second “Citizens Police Academy” will be each Tuesday from Sept. 1 until Nov. 3 from 6pm until 9pm each night. The SWAT demonstration will take place at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Advance Firearms and Tactical Training Center on Sept. 19 from 9am until 12 noon. All those who are selected will be notified. There is no cost for those who are selected for the “Citizens Police Academy.” Those who participate and graduate from this year’s class will join the graduates of the 1st Citizens Police Academy in the “Citizens Police Academy Alumni.” These alumni will have an opportunity to support the Sheriff’s Office by encouraging participation in future academies and to promote the Sheriff’s Office through their contact with others outside the Sheriff’s Office. Last November, 24 Oconee citizens graduated from the 1st Citizens Police Academy.