The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will host the ninth Sheriff’s Community Academy beginning October 13.

The Sheriff’s Community Academy offers a limited number of community members the exclusive opportunity to go inside every aspect of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station for a unique and in-depth look at how deputies serve our community and the inner workings of community protection.

Participants will learn about nearly every aspect of the station including patrol procedures, jail operations, Detective Bureau investigations, gang and narcotic enforcement, and how they can get involved with helping us protect our community through Neighborhood Watch.

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Two exclusive field trips are also planned to one of the Sheriff Department’s maximum security Los Angeles County jails and the Department’s Tactics and Survival Training center. At the center, some participants will get the opportunity to be put to the test and see how they would handle split second decision making during simulated life threatening emergency scenarios. No law enforcement experience is required and participants will not be put in any danger during the program.

The program consists of five sessions meeting every Wednesday night from 7 to 9:15 p.m. beginning Wednesday, October 13 and concluding on Wednesday, November 10 Please note that field trip days may be longer. A Sheriff’s Community Academy barbecue and presentation, hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Community Advisory Committee and Sheriff’s Foundation will be held for all participants at the end of the five week program.

Because the program is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Community Advisory Committee and the Sheriff’s Foundation, there is no charge. However, donations to these non-profit entities that support your Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will be greatly appreciated.

Interested community members should fill out the Community Academy Interest Application located at the following link: http://www.scvsheriff.com/Community_Academy.asp

Only on-line applications are being accepted at this time. There is limited space available and only 40 applicants will be approved and accepted for the upcoming academy. The last day to submit applications for the October 2010 academy class will be Friday, October 8.

*NOTE – Applicants must be 18 years of age before the start of the academy and must live or work in the Santa Clarita Valley. Applicants must not be involved in any criminal process or have felony convictions. All applications are subject to approval of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Questions or additional information:

Lieutenant Mark Hershey – Tuesday through Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at (661) 799-5104; Sergeant Darren Harris, 799-5814.