The mission of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Citizens
Academy is to build a stronger relationship with the community it
serves. Promote cooperation and support for the Hidalgo County Sheriff's
Office. Reduce crime through community involvement. Educate the public
about the functions and responsibilities of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's
Office. Expose citizens to some of the training a deputy sheriff
receives at the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Academy.
Expected Outcomes
Upon graduating from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Citizens Academy
the citizen will: Know some of the laws that govern their community.
Know the Sheriff's Office procedures and how those procedures determine
the actions a deputy sheriff takes. Be more involved in their community
to help reduce crime. Be aware of some of the issues a deputy sheriff
faces when dealing with situations in the community. Know the services
the Sheriff's Office provides to the community. Be able to participate
in training for deputy sheriffs. Allowed to ride along with a deputy
sheriff while he performs his patrol duties. Able to volunteer at the
Sheriff's Office.
Upon graduating from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's
Citizens Academy the citizen will not: Have police powers. Be
a deputy sheriff. Be employed by the Sheriff's Office.
Statistics
The first citizens academy was held on May 8, 2006 and ended on July
31, 2006. The citizens academy is a thirteen week program that
meets every Monday night from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. The final night of the
academy is graduation day. The first academy produced sixteen graduates
and the Sheriff's Citizens Academy has completed three academies since
its inception with a total of thirty-seven graduates.