Citizen Academy
The Denton County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) offers a Citizen Academy multiple times per year. The DCSO Citizen Academy will last 12 weeks and you will be introduced to what the Sheriff’s Office is all about. You will be an active participant in most aspects of our daily duties.
The Citizen Academy is designed to open the lines of communication between the DCSO and the community. It is the sincere desire of the DCSO to develop a style of policing that reflects a collaborative effort between the community and deputies. The Citizen’s Academy is a “hands-on” interactive experience working with the different units within the Sheriff’s Office. This process requires an informed citizenry and it is the goal of the academy to increase “Understanding through Education”.
What Topics Are Covered?
The curriculum is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the operational dynamics of the Denton County Sheriff’s Office and the critical role citizens play in our community crime control efforts. Each class is given by Sheriff Deputies who work every day in the job area they are presenting. For example, Traffic Officers will discuss their role in enforcing the Traffic Laws and reducing the number of accidents in the county. Investigators will discuss the types of offenses that occur in Denton County and their role in investigating those crimes. We believe that policing by partnership, the union of efforts, is essential for effective law enforcement.
Who Should Attend the DCSO Citizen Academy?
Any citizen who lives or works in Denton County is eligible to attend the Citizen Academy. Students in Denton County are also eligible. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Each class is limited to 24 people and participants are chosen to ensure a broad community representation so everyone might develop an informed understanding of the effects that social, cultural, educational, and economic institutions have on our neighborhoods.
Please fill out the attached application and return it as soon as possible. Once you graduate from our DCSO Citizen Academy class then you will be eligible to join our Volunteers in Police Service, (VIPS) program. Please contact Deputy Tyler Nivens if you have any questions or concerns. Tyler.Nivens@dentoncountysheriff.org
The Fall Citizens Academy is scheduled to start on Monday, September 9, 2024, and will extend over 12 weeks. It will have scheduled meetings every Monday.