BY BRANDY TEMPLETON

Eleven Iredell County residents recently completed the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy.

The Citizens Academy is a community-oriented program that helps citizens understand the purpose of the sheriff’s office and gain insight into how Sheriff Darren Campbell and ICSO personnel carry out their mission.

Participants learn through demonstrations and hands-on activities. Included are mock traffic stops, watching K-9 officers in action, entry demonstrations, simulated weapon demonstrations, and drone demonstrations. Citizens also learn about the latest drug trends and learn how to build better relationships with the office.

“It’s pretty interesting,” said Danny Kanavas of Mt. Ulla. “It’s pretty educational learning about what they do.”

Originally from New York, Kanavas said things are different “down here.”

Kanavas and his brother-in- law, Robert Wolf, signed up for the Citizens Academy after deciding to familiarize themselves with the ICSO..

“We really enjoyed the jail night,” Wolf said.

That night participants were given a personal tour of the new detention center.

Wolf said he wants to be a better citizen and thinks the program helped him.

“It’s good to learn how they work, what they spend money on, what they go through,” he said. “It gives me a better perspective on how I can help them.”

LEARN MORE

For more information about the Citizens Academy, contact the ICSO Crime Prevention Unit at 704- 878-3180.

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