King County Sheriff’s Office to Host 9-1-1 Citizen’s Academy

Editor's Note: The following is a press release issued by the King County Sheriff's Office.

KING COUNTY – Local residents will have a prime opportunity to learn about the internal workings of the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center when the next 9-1-1 Citizen’s Academy is held on March 31st, 2012.

The academy will educate citizens about the role 9-1-1 Communications Specialists play in the public safety system and prepare them should they ever need to dial 9-1-1.

The all day class includes information on the history of 9-1-1, call-taking and police dispatching, our training program, King County geography, agency partnerships, citizen training, and what our  CALEA Accreditation process means for our citizens.

In addition to the classroom session, academy participants will be scheduled to spend two 2-hours sessions with an on-duty Communications Specialist. The “sit-along” time will offer a practical demonstration of the lessons learned in the academy.

The academy is open to anyone at least 18 years old with no felony convictions.  Applicants must live or work in King County.

Applications to attend are now being accepted. Space is limited and completed applications should be turned in as soon as possible.  The application deadline is Friday, March 9th, 2012.

Applications are available on the King County Sheriff’s Office website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff/Enforcement/911Center/2012CitzensAcademy.aspx.  You can also request the applications by calling our Hotline at 206-205-6625, or by sending an email request to: KCSO911FB@kingcounty.gov