Have you ever wondered what your police officers and county deputies do throughout the day and evening to protect you while you are at work or sleeping? Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is presenting their 12th annual Citizens’ Police Academy in Wood Village City Hall so you can find out first-hand.
The program is open to adults over the age of 18 and, in the past, attendees over the age of 70 have attended. The students are a cross section of our community with several married couples attending. You will find both men and women—women making up about half of the class. Springdale Job Corp Academy sends students from their Protective Services program. The academy has a maximum enrollment of 24 students and is only offered once a year.
Part of the training includes a tour of the jail in downtown Portland, the 911 Center, and a River Patrol ride along, a drug dog presentation, SWAT and K-9 presentations and many more segments. In each of the 12-week sessions they bring in different speakers or a unit does a demonstration. Vehicular Crimes Team is an example of subjects they will cover. The program is designed for citizens of our community to create a better understanding of the wide variety of components that make up the sheriff’s office.
Randy Lorence took the class last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. He enthusiastically recommends it to everyone. His most memorable speaker was the forensic artist from Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Another speaker that stood out in his mind was a deputy involved in a shooting. In that case a man stabbed and killed an elderly woman. Her granddaughter stood outside the home and calmly described to deputies that the man was still inside the house. The deputy who gained access to the home confronted the man, who was shot in the process.
You can receive an application from Wood Village City Hall located at2055 NE 238th Drive, Wood Village, Oregon 97060. Call (503) 667-6211and ask for Greg Dirks. This is a 12 week course plus one week if you do the ride along with a deputy. They meet every Wednesday evening starting August 31 to November 16th from 6:30pm to 9pm. They require a criminal background check of all the students. Wood Village is the co-host of the academy and will provide light refreshments. The program coordinator is Sergeant Bryan White who is most engaging and an all-around great guy. The best part of it all: there is no cost to the attendees.
Thinking about law enforcement as a career? The academy would be a great first step.
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