Sheriff's Citizen Patrol Set To Graduate

Following the April 16th tornado, a pool of trained volunteers was something that Sheriff Carter and his staff didn’t have. "The deputies were stretched thin. It was chaos. If you weren't already in an organization, you couldn't get in." Many were turned away, said Lee County Sheriff's Office Lt. David Prevatte.

To keep from turning away concerned residents in the future, the Sheriff's Citizen Patrol was created. "If someone is passionate about helping your community, this is just one way to contribute and make a difference," Prevatte said.

The 10-week long course gives participating residents a chance to better understand the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff's Office and to complete hands-on training, Prevatte said. The current class finished formal classroom training this week, according to Prevatte, and is set to graduate during the first Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting in July.

In the meantime, he said the students will be working on field training.

Participants will be able to help Sheriff's Office employees by checking on seniors, homes and businesses that are empty, as well as completing administrative duties in the office. They also are trained on what to do during a traffic accident or emergency, Prevatte said.

Nine qualified citizens were selected out of a pool of 20 for the class with eight set to complete the program. Participants must pass the same requirements as an officer, including a background check, drug test and physical, he said.

Other classes covered topics on drivers training, hazmat and traffic control, disaster preparation, first aid, gangs and drug use. At the end of the classes, graduates will ride along with other officers for a minimum of four hours.

Prevatte said he hopes another class will begin in six months to a year. Interested residents can contact him at (919) 718-4561, ext. 7.