REGIONAL- The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is offering the public a new opportunity for an inside look at how it operates through a ten-week Citizens’ Academy. Classes begin Nov. 1 and will be offered Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classes will include interactive presentations and tours to give citizens a better understanding of the range of services provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
“It is to better educate the public and give the citizens of St. Louis County an opportunity to see firsthand what the sheriff’s office does on a daily basis with all of our different entities,” said Sgt. Adam Kleffman. “We want to deep dive into every aspect of the sheriff’s office so all the citizens in St. Louis County are aware of all of the different things that our sheriff’s office does, just kind of a front row seat on how we go about business.”
The majority of classes will take place at the Public Safety Building, 2030 Arlington Avenue in Duluth with additional sessions held at relevant locations for tours, including the St. Louis County Jail and Emergency Operations Center.
Kleffman said the academy draws on experiences he gained at another agency that offered a citizens police academy, but that the inspiration for the St. Louis County version came from Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.
“This was Sheriff Ramsay’s idea to bring this to St. Louis County,” Kleffman said. “I just happened to have some expertise and background in working with one previously.”
The Citizens’ Academy will cover topics including patrol operations, a K-9 presentation and demonstration, the St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Emergency Response Team and Tactical Operations, Lake Superior Violent Crimes Task Force, St. Louis County Jail operations and tour, 911 operations and tour, crime scene investigations, Internet Crimes against Childrens Task Force, Child Abduction Response Team, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC), and an interactive use of force simulation training.
“I was an investigator before I got my current position, and so I was on the Child Abduction Response Team, and I worked on the ICAC Task Force,” Kleffman said. “People aren’t aware of the amount of entities that that we work with for investigations, like the Lake Superior Violent Crimes Task Force, the response team, etc.”
Citizens completing the academy will have the opportunity to go on a ride-along with a St. Louis County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Since this is the first go-round for the academy, Kleffman said they’re not quite sure what the response will be, but they’re hoping for around 15 to 20 participants, with the class capped at 30.
“I’ve already had a few people reach out that are interested in it,” Kleffman said. “We’re just excited to get started.”
The sheriff’s office expects to offer another Citizens’ Academy with classes held in the northern part of the county next year. Kleffman said the intent is to rotate the academy south to north on an even-odd year basis.
Any St. Louis County resident ages 18 or older may apply. Applicants will be required to pass a criminal background check. The deadline to apply is Oct. 25, 2023.
To learn more or to apply, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/sheriff, or contact Sgt. Adam Kleffman at 218-726-2371 or KleffmanA2@stlouiscountymn.gov.