© 2025 KPCW

KPCW
Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center
PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley
Park City | UT | 84060
Office: (435) 649-9004 | Studio: (435) 655-8255

Music & Artist Inquiries: music@kpcw.org
News Tips & Press Releases: news@kpcw.org
Volunteer Opportunities
General Inquiries: info@kpcw.org
Listen Like a Local Park City & Heber City Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Summit County sheriff opens citizen academy applications

Residents participate in the Summit County sheriff's citizens academy in 2022.
Summit County Sheriff's Office
Residents participate in the Summit County sheriff's citizens academy in 2022.

About 30 people will be accepted to the behind-the-badge program.

Summit County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Skyler Talbot says the citizen academy’s goal is to connect the department with residents in a way that strengthens community ties.

“The citizens academy is a really great way to get people into the office, let them see what we do, how we train, why we do some of the things we do, and give them an opportunity to engage with us outside of, you know, that context where maybe it's an actual investigation, or something like that,” he explained.

The program starts in June and will let residents learn about everything from investigation to SWAT, dispatch and everything in between. It’s modeled on how deputies actually train.

“We're going to take all of that, at the end of the year, we're going to put it into a ‘scenario day.’ You'll essentially get a play cop for the day,” he said. “We're going to put you in a police car — obviously, in a controlled environment — we're going to simulate calls coming in and you having to respond to those calls to kind of give you an idea of what it's like to be a deputy.”

It’s free, but the sheriff’s office asks residents to commit to attending every session.

The program will meet weekly on Tuesdays beginning June 3 through Aug. 5, from 6–9 p.m. There is no meeting July 1, and a special session is set for Saturday, Aug. 2, tentatively from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Applicants must be a citizen, business owner or stakeholder in Summit County, 18 or older, and pass a limited background check.

There are about 30 spots that will be filled on a rolling basis.

Email citizenacademy@summitcountyutah.gov for more information on applying.