FROM STAFF REPORTS

COLUMBIANA  — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its third Citizens Sheriff’s Academy class starting March 6.

The Citizens Sheriff’s Academy is a 12-week program designed to introduce and educate citizens to various law enforcement practices and procedures of the sheriff’s office, including criminal investigations, laws and the court system, uniform/patrol division, drug task force, tactical response unit and other special units of the sheriff’s office.

The academy also includes a tour of the Shelby County Jail, a “ride-along” on patrol with a deputy sheriff, basic firearms safety training and use of the sheriff’s office’s firearms range.

The academy is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who lives or works in Shelby County. Due to the nature of the Academy and the topics presented, all applicants to the program are subject to a criminal background check and a driver’s license check conducted by the sheriff’s office as a condition for acceptance into the program.

Classes will be held every Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Training Center on McDow Road in Columbiana. Class size is limited to 20 students.

For registration information, visit www.myshelbyso.com. For additional information about the academy, email Sgt. Clay Hammac at chammac@shelbyso.com.