Our local sheriffs department has a community outreach program called the Cole County Citizen’s Instructional Academy (CIA). Every Tuesday night for the next seven weeks, we meet for four hours (!).

“The course includes lectures, discussions, and in-person visits to various Sheriff’s Office divisions. Participants have the opportunity to ride-along with patrol officers to see the challenges officers face as they patrol the county. They also get a taste of the training involved in law enforcement to include vehicle stop scenarios and even a (firing) range day.”

First half of tonight’s presentation was a little dry, but probably necessary. The second half was fascinating. It included a very interesting presentation from the “Crisis Negotiator Team” but the highlight of the evening was a tour of the facility. (A few years back, the previous sheriff, Greg White, gave George and I a tour of the old jail)

The next session focuses on the sheriffs patrol division (Investigations/Detectives, Narcotics, SWAT, K-9, Animal Control)