Inaugural sheriff’s citizen academy set for next week

Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:13 pm

JCSO Deputy Parker Walden, who is helping organize the inaugural citizen academy, speaks at Perrin-Whitt Elementary School, Oct. 31. The academy will allow two-way communication for residents and the JCSO. File photo

The Jack County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its inaugural citizen academy starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, as it hopes to build a bridge between the office and the citizens it serves.

JCSO Deputy Parker Walden, who is helping organize the academy, said the idea came from Sheriff Thomas Spurlock.

“(The academy will) just kind of give the public a bit of insight on what we do on a daily basis and how we operate and things like that,” Walden said. “As well as, give them an opportunity to give us feedback to see what we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, what we can do better on, what they enjoy that we are doing and things like that.”

Walden said the academy will be a 10-week program held each Tuesday night, with dates subject to change due to holidays, in the Jack County Law Enforcement Center located 1432 FM 3344.

“We will have specialized units come out and give different presentations and things like that with a graduation and potential follow-up afterwards,” Walden said. “After you complete the academy you will be eligible for certain programs that we are going to have coming in the future.”

Some topics which will be discussed in the academy include arrest search seizure and the Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Penal Code and how it applies to citizens, citizen and officer traffic stop interactions and officer and citizen interaction during a use of force incident.

“Each of these discussions will include instruction and feedback sessions, and will also include hands on scenarios and skills training,” a Facebook post from the JCSO Citizen Academy reads.

Citizens interested in participating in the academy can email Walden at pwalden@jackcountysheriff.com for an application. There is no cost to the academy and the only requirements are the applicant must be 21-years-old or older and pass a voluntary criminal background check. Applications must be turned in by Saturday, Nov. 17.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Nov. 13, edition of The Jacksboro Herald-Gazette.