Have you ever wanted to be a law enforcement officer? Have you ever wondered if what you see on CSI is real? Have you ever wanted to know how your tax dollars were spent in relation to the Sheriff's Office? Or would you just like to learn more about better protecting yourself, your family and your property?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are just the person we want to attend our Citizen's Police Academy. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is inviting all citizens who live or work in Beaufort County, and are at least 18 years old, to come join the team as we host our 22nd CPA session since 2002. Over 1,000 dedicated citizens have taken this opportunity to learn more about our agency and how they can better protect themselves. This would a great opportunity for you to join that group!

Classes run from 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm - in Beaufort on Tuesdays, and in Hilton Head on Thursdays. Class participants will learn about almost all aspects of the Sheriff's Office and will have face time with the decision and policy makers of the Sheriff's Office. Some of the topics covered by CPA instructors include: enforcement, criminal investigations, civil process, warrants, juvenile services, training, homeland security, drug enforcement, traffic enforcement, special teams and the budgeting process. The Sheriff's Office provides each member with an in-depth manual and refreshments for each meeting.

The CPA also provides various “hands-on” demonstrations to enhance your participation in the program. Don a pair of latex gloves and immerse yourself in the world of Crime Scene Processing with our CSI scenario. Suit up and learn the physical and legal dangers of firing your duty weapon utilizing the Shoot/Don't Shoot or Force-on-Force Simmunitions exercises in our Walk in Our Shoes scenarios. Find out why we'll provide the chaser if you drink and drive in our D.U.I. Fatal Vision scenarios. All of these exercises, although extremely entertaining, are designed to give you a snapshot of what law enforcement around the country faces every day.

We will conclude our sessions with a highly interactive chat session with Sheriff P.J. Tanner. Also included in the program is a Citizen Ride-Along, and a field trip to the Emergency Management Center and our range facility, where we will showcase some of our specialized equipment and our S.W.A.T. and K-9 teams.

Once you have completed the program, you and your guest are invited to take part in a graduation ceremony, designed to show our appreciation and pride for you and your commitment to making Beaufort County a better place to live.

This is the perfect time of year to attend. So stop putting it off, and come join the CPA Family! Applications for the Citizen's Police Academy are available at the Sheriff's Office or on our website: www.bcso.net. To request that an application be mailed to you, please contact Captain T.W. Smith at 843-470-3292.