Dayton Offers Citizen's Academy

DAYTON – Sheriff Joe Helm is pleased to announce the 2019 Columbia County Citizen’s Academy.

The Citizen’s Academy will be held every Friday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for 11 weeks beginning Feb. 1, 2019 through April 19, 2019. The classes will be held in the training room of Columbia County Fire District #3 located at 111 Patit Road, Dayton WA.

“This is a rare opportunity for the citizens of our community to learn more about the individuals who are protecting Columbia County and why they make the decisions they do. The intent of the Citizen’s Academy is to create better understanding and communication between citizens and law enforcement through education,” Helm said.

The curriculum will include such topics as public education and outreach, patrol procedures, the reserve deputy program, use of force and defensive tactics, street weapons and officer safety, crime prevention and personal safety, court procedures, prosecuting crime, criminal investigations, collision investigations, sex offender information, drug enforcement, search and rescue and boat patrol. Participants of the Citizen’s Academy will also be allowed to make a two-hour ride along with a deputy on patrol, as well as tour the Sheriff’s Office, Communications Center and Jail.

Class size is limited, so apply early! The deadline to receive applications is Monday, Jan, 28. Applicants must have no felony convictions or recent misdemeanor convictions, and a background check will be conducted on all applicants. Persons accepted into the program will be notified no later than Jan. 28, 2019.

Completed applications may be dropped off at the front counter of the Sheriff’s Office located in the ground floor of the Columbia County Courthouse or mailed to the Sheriff’s Office at 341 East Main Street, Suite 1, Dayton WA, 99328. They can also be e-mailed to Civil Deputy Tim Quigg at tim_quigg@co.columbia.wa.us, or faxed to 509-382-4765. Questions about the Citizen’s Academy can be directed to Civil Deputy Tim Quigg at 509-382-3982.

Applications can be downloaded from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page of picked up at the Sheriff’s Office.