Community members are invited to participate in the Citizens Law Enforcement Academy (CLEA), conducted by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office twice each year. The 12-week program is held one night a week for approximately three hours and includes classroom instruction, ride-a-longs, live demonstrations, and a firearms exhibition.

During the academy, Sheriff’s Office members illustrate the evolution of modern policing and the challenges facing law enforcement personnel nationally and locally. Each session is instructed by subject matter experts and includes patrol procedures, criminal investigations, DUI enforcement, narcotics, SWAT, forensics, and aviation. Additionally, CLEA participants are guided on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Emergency Operations Bureau (EOB), Animal Services, and the Sarasota County Correctional Facility.

CLEA is a great “first step” for those wishing to volunteer, join or simply learn more about their Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the diverse functions, roles, and responsibilities within the agency.