Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its newly redesigned Community Academy, an engaging, hands-on opportunity for residents to learn how local public safety works from the inside. With the academy shortened from 23 weeks to 11 weeks, the Sheriff’s Office hopes the streamlined schedule makes participation possible for more community members who may not have been able to commit to the longer format in previous years.

The academy will run Thursday evenings from Nov. 5, 2026, through Feb. 4, 2027, with breaks for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays. Space is limited to 25 participants, making early application essential.

Participants will explore key areas of Sheriff’s Office operations, including:

• Patrol Operations — How deputies respond in the field
• S.W.A.T. — Specialized tactics and critical incident response
• Detective’s Bureau — Investigative techniques
• K-9 Unit — Training, deployment, and real-world applications
• Disaster Management — How major incidents are coordinated
• Cyber Investigations — Identity theft and digital forensics
• Tours of the Boulder County Jail and the Communications Center

In addition to classroom instruction, participants will take part in dynamic training simulations that offer hands-on experience in tactical decision-making and self‑defense, a highlight of the academy and one of its most memorable components.

The academy is open to Boulder County residents age 18 or older. Individuals with prior felony convictions or a misdemeanor conviction within the past year are not eligible.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Oct. 28, 2026. The online application is available at boco.org/SheriffCommunityAcademy.

Questions about the Community Academy may be directed to academy coordinator Dan Hershman at: dhershman@bouldercounty.gov.