Citizens’ Academy
Citizens’ Academy
The 2025 Benton County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy program is closed. If you are interested in the 2026 program, you can submit your name, email, and optionally, your phone number (see below). In June 2026 an email will be sent with a link to the application.
The BCSO Citizens’ Academy is an opportunity for you to learn about and gain a better appreciation for the challenges and accomplishments of your Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
The goal of the BCSO Citizens’ Academy is to create a safer community through a better understanding and partnership between Benton County residents and the Sheriff’s Office. Citizens’ Academy is not designed to train citizens as law enforcement personnel or to exercise law enforcement authority of any kind.
2026 Class Dates
Eight Tuesday evenings starting September 2026 through October from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. There will be two Saturday sessions.
How to Apply
Links to the Application Form will be posted in June of 2026.
FAQs
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) invites applications from community members of all ethnic, cultural and civic groups. Both men and women are encouraged to apply and there are no age restrictions for adults.
Applicants between the ages of 14 and 17 must have a signed consent from a parent or legal guardian and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Academy is geared toward adults and we do not accept those under age 14.
As part of the application process, you must agree to authorize the BCSO to conduct a criminal history check. Felony convictions or other circumstances that would make participation inappropriate may be cause for denial of admission.
Most of the instructors are sworn Deputies of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office who teach in their area of expertise. Other instructors are connected with the Sheriff’s Office either as employees or volunteers, or as members of other agencies in law enforcement or criminal justice.