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Community Law Enforcement Academy

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Community Law Enforcement Academy is designed to educate the citizens of Seminole County in the concepts and procedures of law enforcement. There are no physical requirements and it is a free course taught by members of the Sheriff’s Office leadership team, deputy sheriffs, investigators, and other agency staff.

NOTE: This academy is not for law enforcement certification. It is offered for educational purposes only. There is no guarantee of employment with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office upon completion of this course.

Apply Here for the next Community Law Enforcement Academy Class
2025 Class Session Dates
  • Class #91 will begin Wednesday, February 5th to Wednesday, May 14th, 2025.
    Applications are now open and will be accepted until December 30th 2024, or until capacity is reached.
Applications are taken on a first come first serve basis.

ACADEMY SUMMARY
The course begins with an introduction by members of our command staff. Sessions include presentations on topics such as: neighborhood policing, investigations, child protective services, and forensics. Class participants will see demonstrations from the Special Operations Unit (SWAT, Aviation, Range and Water, K9 and EOD), have the opportunity to fire Sheriff’s Office weapons at the gun range, and drive a patrol car in similar conditions that deputies are trained in. Class participants will also tour the John E. Polk Correctional Facility, the Juvenile Enforcement Center, and the Criminal Justice Center. All students will be offered the opportunity to participate in ride-a-longs with a uniformed deputy sheriff.

A typical course schedule is as follows:
  • Welcome and organizational overview from Sheriff Lemma and members of the command staff
  • Department of Law Enforcement, Seminole Neighborhood Policing (Patrol Operations)
  • Diversified Investigative Services (Major Crimes, Auto Theft, Digital Forensics, and Financial Crimes)
  • Visit to Special Operations (Canine, Range and Water, EOD, and Aviation)
  • Domestic Security Division (Gangs, Anti-Terrorism, Fugitives)
  • Traffic Safety and DUI Enforcement (demonstration of fatal vision goggles)
  • Visit to the Training Center (Response to resistance, defensive tactics, and the Taser)
  • Forensic Services and Victim Advocate
  • Department of Youth Services
  • Child Protective Services
  • Visit to the 9-1-1 Communications Center
  • Public Affairs Divisions
  • Visit to the Criminal Justice Center and hear from the Office of the State Attorney
  • Visit to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility (Seminole County Jail)

APPLICATION PROCESS
To be eligible, all applicants must submit to a background check. To attend the academy, you must:
  • Live or work in Seminole or surrounding counties;
  • Be at least 18 years of age;
  • Possess a valid driver's license or other form of government issued photographic identification;
  • Disclose any arrests or convictions, including misdemeanors, to include pleas of nolo contendre regardless of whether adjudication was withheld
  • Submit an application with required documents to the Sheriff's Office through the link above; and
  • Be fingerprinted at SCSO’s Main Building located at 100 Eslinger Way in Sanford. (Human Resources will contact you to schedule and is free of charge for CLEA applicants)

In order for your application to be processed, you must submit:
  1. An Online Application
  2. A Completed and Notarized Background Waiver
  3. A Completed and Notarized Hold Harmless Release Indemnification Agreement
  4. If participating in Taser Exposure, one must submit Taser Release Form
  5. If participating in a Ride Along, please view the Ride Along Fact Sheet
  6. Come to the Sheriff's Office for Fingerprinting (Human Resources will contact you to schedule your appointment)

After your application has been received, a background investigation will be conducted and you will be notified to come in for fingerprinting. Once these items have been completed you will receive your acceptance into the class. (Please note that this process may take a little time to complete). Please remember that applications are accepted on a first come first served basis and class size is limited.

To enroll, complete the online application and press the "SUBMIT" button.

By submitting this application you agree to the agency's selection process and understand that you must successfully complete the background check and fingerprints before given final consideration for acceptance into the SCSO Community Law Enforcement Academy. You also certify that all statements given in this application are true and correct. Falsification or misrepresentation on this application or any other personnel record may result in you not being accepted into the SCSO Community Law Enforcement Academy.

Also, in the event of acceptance, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office and any person or entity it may authorize, shall be entitled, without further consent, to use, in any manner required, any picture or photograph of you or a recording of your voice taken through the duration of the SCSO Community Law Enforcement Academy.

Once the selection process is completed, you will be notified about your acceptance in the academy via email.

Questions? Please contact Keri Higby at (407) 665-6880 or khigby@seminolesheriff.org.

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Seminole County Sheriff's Office
100 Eslinger Way
Sanford, Florida 32773
Phone: (407) 665-6650