THOUSAND OAKS : Sign-Ups Begin for Citizen Academy

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is accepting applications from residents of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and unincorporated areas who are interested in a free 12-week Citizen Academy that will offer an inside look at the world of law enforcement.

The weekly meetings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. begin Jan. 26 and will include both basic and specialized information on the Sheriff’s Department as well as the chance to ride along with a deputy and to experience the department’s shootout simulator.

Cmdr. Kathryn Kemp said the classes are modeled after similar programs in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, which have proven effective in both teaching the public about police work and soliciting suggestions on how officers can better do their jobs.

Applications will be accepted through Jan. 1 and are available at the department’s East Valley station at 2101 E. Olsen Road or at Thousand Oaks City Hall.

Most of the 25 spots available in the first class will go to Thousand Oaks residents, because the city is contributing $800 to help pay for the program. A limited number of slots have been reserved for Moorpark residents and those who live in unincorporated county areas.

Kemp said the selections will be made to ensure a broad and diverse group.

“We want a cross-section of the community,” Kemp said. “We want everything from the housewife to the corporate lawyer.”

Other classes will be announced in the future, Kemp said, with an average of two or three sessions scheduled each year. Applicants must have no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions in the past year.