19 Graduate from Citizens Police Academy

The Richland County Sheriff's Department has "extra eyes and ears on the street," said Sheriff Leon Lott.

A group of 19 citizens graduated from the Richland County Sheriff's Department's Citizens Police Academy on Friday, Nov. 4. 

The Citizens Police Academy is a 12-week educational program that provides citizens first-hand information about how the sheriff’s department works. During each class, participants learn about a division of the department, such as investigations, gang unit, K-9 unit, traffic and narcotics.

"The hope is that the graduates will receive such a keen understanding of the department’s operations that they will in turn become ambassadors of the Department, encouraging others to attend a CPA and to become advocates of crime watches, crime prevention and community awareness," Lott said.

The next class begins Jan. 17. Classes are held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. The final session is the graduation and a ride-along with on-duty deputies.

To register, applicants must be 21 years old, have no misdemeanor arrests within one year of application and no felony arrests.

Citizens can apply on the sheriff's department website or by calling the Community Action Team at 803-576-3191.