The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office still has limited seating available for its upcoming Citizens Academy class.
The first session will be Jan. 10 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Colony Cottage Recreation Center, 510 Colony Boulevard in The Villages. Those interested in participating are encouraged to call Theresa Cooper at (352) 689-4604.
Those who participate in the Citizens Academy will meet 11 times over the next two and a half months. At the initial Jan. 10 meeting, Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer, Chief Dep. Gary Brannen and Maj. Chris Haworth will speak.
Here’s a breakdown of the remaining sessions:
- Jan. 17: Lt. Robert Siemer, Villages district supervisor; and Sgt. Derek Pike, dive team and water patrol.
- Jan. 24: Capt. Pat Breeden and Lt. Jon Galvin, criminal investigations and criminal intelligence; and Sgt. Joel Mullins, forensics, evidence and fingerprinting.
- Jan. 31: Capt. Pat Breeden and Melissa Merritt, victims advocate; Capt. Tony Prevatt and Caren Holloway, Communication Center (911 call center).
- Feb. 7: Capt. Pat Breeden and Lt. Michael Cassidy, patrol operations and zones; and a K-9 deputy with a K-9 dog.
- Feb. 14: Maj. Page Lochrie and Capt. Zeke Shaw, Sumter County Detention Center.
- Feb. 21: Arvid Cowell, Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches; Capt. Tony Prevatt, Dep. Joey Mooneyham and Beth Hunt, community outreach coordinator.
- Feb. 28: Sgt. Lucas Brown, vice; Lt. Robert Capps, SWAT.
- March 7: Professional standards & accreditation; Inspector James Aguiar, Inspector Marty Egan and Dep. Crystal Stuller.
- March 14: Maj. Page Lochrie and Lt. Louis Fernandez, courthouse security; Sumter County Judge Paul L. Militello; graduation ceremony.
- March 15: Road trip (tour of the Sumter County Detention Center, helicopter and sheriff’s office).