Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. To Continue Providing Courses At College Of The Desert

PALM DESERT, CA — The Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to continue providing state-approved courses for the Public Safety Academy at College of the Desert.

"The sheriff's training center continues to provide viable and resourceful training for personnel for the overall safety and security of the (residents) and businesses throughout Riverside County," according to an agency statement posted to the board's agenda.

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In a 5-0 vote without comment, the supervisors signed off on the Instructional Services Agreement between the sheriff's department and Desert Community College District, enabling the department to staff College of the Desert's Public Safety Academy until June 30, 2031, relying on qualified administrators and teachers for a range of classes intended to prepare students for careers as patrol and correctional deputies.

Operational costs are estimated to total roughly $236,000 over the five-year period. College of the Desert will provide space and handle processing and admitting students, but actual expenses tied to running the academy will be borne by the sheriff's department, according to officials.

The Public Safety Academy has been available at CoD since 2001. In addition to law enforcement training, the academy offers classes geared to firefighter and emergency medical technician certifications.

Sheriff's instructors provide California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training-certified classes at the main campus on Monterey Avenue in Palm Desert, as well as the East County Training Center on Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert, the Mecca-Thermal Campus on Buchanan Street in Thermal and the Lake Cahuilla Firing Range on Jefferson Avenue in La Quinta.

The previous compact between the sheriff's department and DCCD was approved in January 2022. However, that agreement expired at the end of June.

More information on the Public Safety Academy is available here.