The Kern County Sheriff’s Office, as part of our ongoing effort to build partnerships with our community and improve community policing efforts, will be offering a Community Academy to residents of Kern County. The goal of the Community Academy is to build a stronger relationship between members of our community of Kern County and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. This is a free, informational academy only and will not provide certification to work in a detentions or patrol setting.

The Community Academy has been designed by Sheriff’s Office personnel to introduce members of our community to the Sheriff’s Office and the Kern County Criminal Justice System. The purpose of the Community Academy is not to recruit members of our community to become Sheriff’s Deputies or Detentions Deputies, but rather to give members of our community a better understanding about law enforcement and how deputy sheriffs work in the community. The 11 week course will cover topics such as the history of the department, what it takes to become a deputy sheriff, use of force and laws of arrest, patrol procedures, gang investigations, air support operations, narcotics investigations, jail operations, force option simulator training, and volunteer services.

The class will be taught by Sheriff’s Office personnel including deputies, detectives, sergeants and command staff. Participants will have an opportunity to ride along with a deputy sheriff on patrol (if they wish) and experience police work from an entirely new perspective.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is expecting to start the next Community Academy on August 3, 2021. We are currently accepting applications for the next Community Academy and classes will be held every Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm, until 9:30 pm, at the Kern Regional Training Center (962 Norris Road). The only exception will be week 10, which will be held on a Saturday, for a SWAT, K-9, and pistol range demonstration. Graduation from the Community Academy will be determined at a later date and time.

To qualify for the Community Academy, applicants must: 1) Be a resident of Kern County or work in Kern County; 2) Must pass a criminal background check, including a fingerprint check, and 3) Be at least 21 years of age or 4) Be at least 18 years of age and currently enrolled in college courses.

If you are interested in applying for the upcoming Community Academy, please call 661-868-1682 or email [email protected]. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2021. Applications will be accepted after this date for future classes.

Applications can be found on the Kern County Sheriff’s Office website (kernsheriff.org), under the Support Services Bureau Section and clicking on the Training Section tab.  Applications are also available at the Regional Training Center, located at 962 Norris Road in Bakersfield, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. All applications must be turned in at 962 Norris Road in person. There will be no exceptions. Valid identification is required for fingerprinting.