The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office offers the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy. This Academy will familiarize El Dorado County residents with many aspects of law enforcement and the role the Sheriff’s Office plays in the community.

The Sheriff’s Office institutes the concepts of Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS). The goal of the COPPS program is to open a positive line of communication with our citizens and to involve the community in some of the decisions regarding law enforcement.

By attending the Academy, citizens will develop a better understanding of the guidelines under which an officer functions and why officers handle situations the way they do. Also discussed is the role of law enforcement and how members of the community can come together to address serious crime and social issues.

A few examples of the Academy’s course content include community relations and dynamic looks into our patrol functions, K-9 program, property crimes, gangs, narcotics, probable cause, search and seizure, court decisions, traffic laws, criminal investigations, crime scene investigation, arrest and defensive tactics and performing actual vehicle stops.

In order to receive the full value of this Academy and to be able to observe procedures firsthand, the Academy includes a four hour block in which each class member is assigned to ride along with a patrol deputy while he/she works the beat.

The Academy is offered periodically and continues for 16 weeks. The class runs one night each week, on Tuesday’s from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. The Academy classes are held at the Sheriff’s Placerville OES training facility. The Citizen’s Academy is offered on a first come first served basis to El Dorado County residents and is free of charge.

The upcoming Citizen’s Academy will start on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 for 16 classes ending Tuesday, November 4, 2014.

This program has been very well received and enjoyed by all who have participated in the past. Academy applications are available on the Sheriff’s Website at https://www.edcgov.us/Sheriff/Programs/Citizen_s_Academy.aspx

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Sean Fitzgerald at (530)-621-5714, email fitzgers or Community Services Officer Teresa Wren at (530) 621-6533, email wrent.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Office
For Press Releases & Information: https://pio.eldoradosheriff.gov

Just before 9:30 pm last night (Sunday 06-29-2014) the wife of an Omo Ranch man reported her husband missing. Gene Nugent’s wife advised the sheriff’s dispatch center that her 57 year old husband (Gene) had gone for a walk in the forest near their home and had not returned. The fact that he was hours overdue combined with medical issues gave her great concern.

Sheriff’s Search and Rescue personnel responded to the area and began to search through the night. Mr. Nugent was located in good condition just before 08:30 am this morning (Monday 06-30-2014) and was returned to his residence in Omo Ranch.

South Lake Tahoe area Gang Sweep

On June 11, 2014 a gang enforcement operation was conducted in the South Lake Tahoe area. The participating agencies included the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the El Dorado County Probation Department and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

Probation searches were conducted on six residences in the South Lake Tahoe area. During these searches evidence of gang affiliation was found. Two additional gang member validations were documented.

The operation resulted in the arrests of three persons; one for violation of probation and another for possession of drug paraphernalia. The third person was a fugitive from justice who was wanted on a felony warrant out of San Diego County.

With the cooperative actions of these allied agencies, further gang sweep operations can be expected in the future. Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact local law enforcement with information that may assist in these future endeavors.