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LAPLACE — Community involvement plays a crucial role in fighting crime and developing relationships between citizens and law enforcement.

To strengthen partnerships between the community and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Mike Tregre offers the Citizen’s Academy, a free program that provides participants with an insider’s view of the operations of the Sheriff’s Office in a relaxed and interactive setting.

The 2020 Citizen’s Academy will be open to the public from 5 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday from Oct. 7 through Nov. 18 (excluding Nov. 11) at Patrol Headquarters, located at 122 Deputy Barton Granier Drive in LaPlace.

The registration deadline is Oct. 5. Due to COVID-19, class size is limited to 12 students. Facemasks are required, and classes must adhere to social distancing. All students must additionally sign a COVID-19 waiver.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and live or work in St. John the Baptist Parish. Information for a background check must be provided, and applicants must pledge to attend all classes. Participants will be notified on acceptance into the academy.

Sessions will feature information on Community/Public Relations, 911, Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Crime Scene Division, Narcotics/Special Operations, Crisis Management Unit, Search & Rescue, Fleet Management, Training, Information Technology, Internal Affairs, Polygraph, District Attorney Investigators, Corrections, Baliffs, Sex Offender Registry, Human Resources, Administrative Services and a demonstration with the Firearms Training Simulator.

A graduation ceremony will be held Nov. 18.

To register, please visit stjohnsheriff.org, and click on Citizens Academy. Complete the application and return it in person or by mail to Bernell Charles Sr., SJSO, Percy Hebert Building, 1801 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace, LA  70068.

For more information, call 985-359-8685.