Last graduating class of the Citizens Academy which included Ghazala Salam, Community & Government Relations Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations Florida. – Photo courtesy CAIR-FL
By: Sharon Aron Baron
Do you want to learn all about police work, but don’t want to quit your day job?
Citizens have the opportunity to work hand in hand with the Broward Sheriff’s Office to learn the inner workings of the criminal justice system and see what actually goes into making the community a safer place to live in.
This 13-week Citizens Academy gives citizens an opportunity to “become immersed in the world of BSO” and experience law enforcement agency through engaging, hands-on learning.
The Citizens Academy started in 1994 and throughout the year includes special academies such as the Haitian Citizen Academy in Creole, and a Brazilian Academy in Portuguese.
“It’s a great way to showcase the agency,” said Gina Carter Public Information Officer with BSO. This is a hands-on experience that is unique to the citizens.”
The course takes place both in the classroom and field, and offers firsthand experience directly from certified agency instructors. During the 13-week period, students will be able to go along on a four-hour ride along assignment with a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy in the district and shift of their choice.
Students will learn about the BSO Criminal Investigations Division, Aviation Unit, Gang Unit, Bomb Squad, Forensic Artist Unit, DUI Unit, and Internal Affairs. Students will also be able to watch a K-9 demonstration, see a display of BSO Fire/Rescue vehicles and Bomb Squad equipment, view equipment used by the BSO SWAT Team and visit the firearms range to take part in weapons simulator training. Tours of BSO’s 9-1-1 Communications Center, the BSO Crime Lab, and a BSO jail facility are also included.
There are no guarantees that if you take the course, you will get to meet Top Dog Sheriff Scott Israel.
Students will even graduate from the class from the end of the course, however, they won’t be sworn in officers. Not even close.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy is an orientation course into the field of law enforcement and public safety. The academy is free of charge and is held on 13 consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. starting January 8, 2014, at the Public Safety Building, 2601 West Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale.
If you are fascinated about the behind the scenes world of the Broward Sheriff’s Office and would like to apply to the Broward Citizens Academy, then first you better have a clean background because they will check it. If you do, then apply online at Broward Sheriff’s Office
