• By Ashleigh Sloop
• Posted Thursday, April 22, 2010

Citizens’ Academy Graduates New Class

On April 14, 2010, six new Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office volunteers successfully completed training requirements to serve at the FCSO. The graduates were honored at a graduation ceremony and presented with their graduation certificates by Sheriff Schatzman.

The mission of the Forsyth County Citizens’ Patrol Academy is to develop partnerships between the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the community it serves. We achieve this goal by providing participants with insight and a realistic understanding of sheriff’s office procedures and operations.

The Academy introduces community members to the sheriff’s office and gives them the opportunity to learn more about how it operates. Through an inside look at the sheriff’s office, misconceptions about law enforcement are erased, and there is an increased awareness of the specialized service the sheriff’s office provides.

During the course of the-six week program, participants are not trained to be law enforcement officers, but more importantly, they are informed about each aspect of law enforcement. Participants learn about patrol operations, criminal investigations, court security, detention center operations, community policing, and much more.

Making the sheriff’s office more accessible to residents results in a stronger network of community support and encourages residents to view themselves as stakeholders in our efforts. The new volunteers will work in a variety of FCSO assignments including court room procedures, pistol permits, records, crime prevention and welfare checks in the county.

Left to Right:
(Back row): Ralph Combs
(2nd row): Corporal Charles Sayers, Brian Miller, Elwin Muntz, Joseph Paschal
(Front row:) Sandra Ward, Jane Bouffard, Sheriff Schatzman