Sonoma Valley citizens sought for police academy

When she answered the phone, Jennifer Gray Thompson knew handling the hostage negotiation would be a matter of life or death. Surrounded by sheriff’s deputies, she braced herself, searching for the right words.

“I actually did well,” Thompson said of her experience, a simulated hostage negotiation that was part of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy, a 10-week program that helps citizens understand the workings of the sheriff’s office.

Thompson, a Sonoma Valley resident, participated in the free 10-week course in 2014, and sheriff’s officials said they are hoping other Valley residents will sign up this year as well. The academy takes place every year.

The deadline to apply for the spring 2019 academy is Feb. 17. The academy is slated to run March 27 through May 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office main building, 2796 Ventura Ave. in Santa Rosa.

“The sheriff’s office serves the entire county, including the Sonoma Valley, and we would love to have people from the Valley join us and have a chance to see what happens behind the scenes and share that experience with us,” said Misti Harris, community engagement liaison for the sheriff.

Thompson said, “What I really liked was hearing from people who actually work this job from day to day, from homicide to the coroner’s office to sex crimes.”

During the academy, students learn about police ethics, communications, drug enforcement and education, criminal law, the correctional system and all of the office’s investigation units including the coroner, violent crimes, domestic violence and sexual assault.

Academy classes are taught by sheriff’s executives and veteran personnel. Participants have the opportunity to meet with the sheriff and staff members. They are encouraged to ask questions and to express their concerns to sheriff’s employees.

Julie Knowles-Howe so enjoyed last year’s academy, she ended up working for the sheriff’s office. The Santa Rosa resident applied for and accepted a job as a senior legal processor with the office’s central information bureau just as the 2017 academy was coming to a close.

During the training, she got to ride in an 8-ton bulletproof armored vehicle used on SWAT calls.

“It’s our BearCat, a rescue vehicle,” Knowles-Howe said.

She also got to use a Taser. “There was no electricity in it, but you still get the sense of how hard it is,” the legal processor said.

“There are two little probes. You have to position them just right, you don’t want them sticking into each other,” she said.

She also fired rubber bullets. Like Thompson’s successful simulated hostage negotiation, Knowles-Howe’s experience went well.

“I was shooting at a rubber dummy. I hit the chest,” she said. Knowles-Howe admitted she was a bit of a ringer: “My dad was a hunter, so I have fired a real weapon before.”

Also like Thompson, Knowles-Howe said one of the most valuable parts was learning what law enforcement officers do on a daily basis.

“What you see on TV, all these high-speed chases, that’s not a normal day,” she said. “A lot of what they do is talking to people, calming things down, listening a lot. They do community policing – for example, when someone has a problem with a neighbor.

“Maybe the neighbor needs some assistance caring for themselves. The deputies would give them a referral to resources that could help them,” Knowles-Howe said.

She said after going through the academy, “Throughout meeting so many people in the sheriff’s office, one thing I kept seeing over and over was the sense of family and teamwork. Of course you want to be a part of that.”

On the last day of class, the job opening was posted, and she applied right away.

“It was meant to be,” Knowles-Howe said.

To apply for the academy, contact Karen Hancock at 565-7398 or email sheriff-crime-prevention@Sonoma-county.org. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and must live or work in Sonoma County.

They must have no prior felony convictions and no misdemeanor arrests within the last 12 months, though any of these requirements may be waived on review and approval of the sheriff.

Enrollment is limited to about 25 students per academy, and members of civic groups and community organizations are encouraged to apply.

“This is a chance to get an insight into why things are done the way they are done,” Harris said. “A chance to learn what we do and why we do it and how we do it.”

Reach Janis Mara at janismara@gmail.com.