2021 Stone County Citizen’s Academy
residents learn about county law enforcement
May 20, 2021
Kadee Brouseau DeCourley
A group of about 15 Stone County residents has completed this year’s Citizen’s Academy, hosted by the Stone County Sheriff’s Department.
On May 10, the eighth class graduated from the academy, which first began in 2014. The class helps educate Stone County citizens about the sheriff’s department and the county’s judicial systems.
“We basically teach them what the sheriff’s office does. [We go over] reports. The judge comes in and talks. The prosecutor comes in and talks. We include the Highway Patrol. They come in and talk about what they do. We just educate them on what law enforcement and the courts systems do in Stone County,” Sheriff Doug Rader said.
The class met one night per week for seven weeks. During much of the course, participants are in a classroom setting.
“Nobody really understands everything that goes on. A big thing that we teach them is what is the difference between a sheriff and a police chief. Most people don’t even understand that,” Rader said.
However, Citizen’s Academy participants also get to do some hands-on learning.
“We run a lot of scenarios that are the same calls the deputies get on a daily basis, whether it’s building searches or domestic disputes, things like that,” Sheriff Rader said.
Citizen’s Academy Graduate Natalie Modglin said acting out the scenarios helped give her an idea of what it’s like to be in a deputy’s shoes. The scenarios ranged from domestic dispute calls to pursuits for people who had “broken into” a building.
“It is scary. I mean, of course, it is a simulation. They’re not going to hurt us, but the adrenaline that’s pumping through your veins, trying to find these people. Any sound, and you’re on guard. It makes you appreciate what our law enforcement do and what they handle every day,” Modglin said.
Through the scenarios, Modglin said, she came to understand how quickly situations can change and how quickly law enforcement officers must react to those changes.
“I have always respected law enforcement, but after that class, oh my gosh, my respect for law enforcement has sky-rocketed,” Modglin said.
Modglin said it was also interesting to hear from the D.A.R.E officer about how the program helps keep our county’s youth on the right path. She also enjoyed hearing about the drug court program, which helps people who are facing drug charges due to their struggles with addiction.
“That was so cool to learn. We don’t just lock them up and let them out to continue the same bad behavior. They have the option to improve their life. I love that,” Modglin said.
Sheriff Rader said the academy helps citizens get acquainted with the sheriff’s department and allows the department to get to know the community.
“It’s their sheriff’s department. We work for the citizens of this county. We want to be transparent and show them what we do,” Sheriff Rader said.
After graduating from the Citizen’s Academy, participants are invited to join the Citizens in Action (CIA) group.
“That’s our citizen’s support group to the sheriff’s office.” Sheriff Rader said. “They have a benevolent fund. You know, if a deputy gets in a bad situation, they’ll help them out.”
He said the CIA recently helped a member of the sheriff’s department whose home burned.
“Within five hours, they handed him a $1,000 Visa card provided by the CIA for him to get the essentials that he needed, him and his wife. They’d lost everything,” Sheriff Rader said.
Sheriff Rader said he’s appreciative of every member of the CIA as well as those who participate in the Citizen’s Academy.
“Our whole goal is to educate our citizens and to build a relationship with the citizens in Stone County,” Sheriff Rader said.
The next Citizen’s Academy will be held in the spring of 2022. If you’d like to apply to participate, you can find the form online on the sheriff’s department website or call the sheriff’s office.
Kadee Brouseau DeCourley
A group of about 15 Stone County residents has completed this year’s Citizen’s Academy, hosted by the Stone County Sheriff’s Department.
On May 10, the eighth class graduated from the academy, which first began in 2014. The class helps educate Stone County citizens about the sheriff’s department and the county’s judicial systems.
“We basically teach them what the sheriff’s office does. [We go over] reports. The judge comes in and talks. The prosecutor comes in and talks. We include the Highway Patrol. They come in and talk about what they do. We just educate them on what law enforcement and the courts systems do in Stone County,” Sheriff Doug Rader said.
The class met one night per week for seven weeks. During much of the course, participants are in a classroom setting.
“Nobody really understands everything that goes on. A big thing that we teach them is what is the difference between a sheriff and a police chief. Most people don’t even understand that,” Rader said.
However, Citizen’s Academy participants also get to do some hands-on learning.
“We run a lot of scenarios that are the same calls the deputies get on a daily basis, whether it’s building searches or domestic disputes, things like that,” Sheriff Rader said.
Citizen’s Academy Graduate Natalie Modglin said acting out the scenarios helped give her an idea of what it’s like to be in a deputy’s shoes. The scenarios ranged from domestic dispute calls to pursuits for people who had “broken into” a building.
“It is scary. I mean, of course, it is a simulation. They’re not going to hurt us, but the adrenaline that’s pumping through your veins, trying to find these people. Any sound, and you’re on guard. It makes you appreciate what our law enforcement do and what they handle every day,” Modglin said.
Through the scenarios, Modglin said, she came to understand how quickly situations can change and how quickly law enforcement officers must react to those changes.
“I have always respected law enforcement, but after that class, oh my gosh, my respect for law enforcement has sky-rocketed,” Modglin said.
Modglin said it was also interesting to hear from the D.A.R.E officer about how the program helps keep our county’s youth on the right path. She also enjoyed hearing about the drug court program, which helps people who are facing drug charges due to their struggles with addiction.
“That was so cool to learn. We don’t just lock them up and let them out to continue the same bad behavior. They have the option to improve their life. I love that,” Modglin said.
Sheriff Rader said the academy helps citizens get acquainted with the sheriff’s department and allows the department to get to know the community.
“It’s their sheriff’s department. We work for the citizens of this county. We want to be transparent and show them what we do,” Sheriff Rader said.
After graduating from the Citizen’s Academy, participants are invited to join the Citizens in Action (CIA) group.
“That’s our citizen’s support group to the sheriff’s office.” Sheriff Rader said. “They have a benevolent fund. You know, if a deputy gets in a bad situation, they’ll help them out.”
He said the CIA recently helped a member of the sheriff’s department whose home burned.
“Within five hours, they handed him a $1,000 Visa card provided by the CIA for him to get the essentials that he needed, him and his wife. They’d lost everything,” Sheriff Rader said.
Sheriff Rader said he’s appreciative of every member of the CIA as well as those who participate in the Citizen’s Academy.
“Our whole goal is to educate our citizens and to build a relationship with the citizens in Stone County,” Sheriff Rader said.
The next Citizen’s Academy will be held in the spring of 2022. If you’d like to apply to participate, you can find the form online on the sheriff’s department website or call the sheriff’s office.