The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the department’s third annual citizens academy, which gives participants a knowledge of the duties and responsibility of the agency.

The academy begins Aug. 23 and ends Oct. 4. Classes meet Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Two additional Saturday sessions will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 25 and Sept. 8. Topics include tours and an overview of the corrections and operations divisions. Classes will also cover accident investigation, field sobriety testing, building searches, drug recognition, patrol driving and firearms.

Applicants must be Douglas County residents 18 or older. Applications are available at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St., and the correctional facility, 3601 E. 25th St. They are also available at the website dgso.org. Additional information about the academy is also listed on the website.

Applications are due by 8 a.m. June 1.

Completed applications can be dropped off at either location, sent by mail to the sheriff’s office, faxed or emailed to Sgt. Steve Buchholz, sbuchholz@dgso.org.

Contact Buchholz or Detective Jay Armbrister, jarmbrister@dgso.org, with additional questions.