The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is offering a Community Academy to county residents to improve community policing efforts.

The 13-week course’s purpose is to given citizens a better understanding of law enforcement and how deputy sheriffs work in the community.

The course will begin Thursday, January 12 and classes will be held every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Kern Regional Training Center.

The class will be taught by deputies, detectives, sergeants and command staff.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be a resident of Kern County or work in Kern County
• Pass a criminal background check, including a fingerprint check
• Be at least 21 years of age or 18 years of age and currently enrolled in college courses

If you are interested in applying, contact Deputy Steven Castillo at 661-868-1682 or by email at communityacademy@kernsheriff.com. The deadline for applications is December 9th.

More information can be found on their website.