Central ND News

The Cass County Sheriff's Office has opened applications for its 2025 Citizens Academy, a 12-week program designed to give participants an inside look at local law enforcement operations. The academy is set to begin on September 16 and will run weekly sessions from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

According to the announcement, the Citizens Academy is not intended as training for a career in law enforcement but rather as an educational opportunity for community members. "With the completion of the 12-week academy, all participants will have exclusive insight into the inner workings of the Cass County Sheriff's Office, Cass County Jail, and law enforcement in general. Please note, the intent of the citizen academy is not to prepare participants for a career in Law Enforcement."

The curriculum covers a wide range of topics including bomb squad operations, SWAT, civil process procedures, corrections, court security, defensive tactics, dispatch center activities, drone operations, firearms handling, gang investigations, hostage negotiations, K-9 unit work, less lethal munitions use, narcotics investigations, professional standards oversight (OPS), facility tours and overviews, patrol division duties, school resource deputy program responsibilities, search and rescue efforts, sex offender program management, sheriff’s reserve unit roles, threat response protocols ("Stop the Threat"), traffic stops procedures and warrants division functions.

There is no cost to attend the academy. Applicants must either reside or work in Cass County and be at least 18 years old. All applicants are subject to a background check.

"The Cass County Sheriff's Office will conduct a background check of all applicants. We will accept the Cass County Sheriff's Citizens Academy applications in the sequence they are submitted and approved. We will contact the applicants in regards to being accepted or not into the citizens academy."

Applications are now being accepted online through the official county website.