FAQ

The BCSO Citizens’ Academy is an opportunity for you to learn about and gain a better appreciation for the challenges and accomplishments of your Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

The goal of the BCSO Citizens’ Academy is to create a safer community through a better understanding and partnership between Benton County residents and the Sheriff’s Office. Citizens’ Academy is not designed to train citizens as law enforcement personnel or to exercise law enforcement authority of any kind.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics from investigations to marine patrol, from parole and probation to jail operations.

You’ll take a tour of the Sheriff’s Office and of the Benton County Jail, take a jet boat ride, see a patrol K9 demonstration in addition to several other demonstrations and tours.

Classes will be a mix of instruction, discussion and participation.

The 2023 sessions for the Citizens’ Academy is set for Tuesday evenings, September 5th – October 24th, from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. In addition, there are two Saturdays, September 23rd and October 7th, from 8:30a – 2:15p.  

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy is offered in the fall, usually in September and October. There are eight Tuesday evening sessions from 6:30p – 9:30p and two Saturday sessions from 8:30a – 2:15p. Specific dates will be found in the current application and are usually announced in the Spring.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy is offered in the fall, usually in September and October. There are eight Tuesday evening sessions from 6:30p – 9:30p and two Saturday sessions from 8:30a – 2:15p. Specific dates will be found in the current application and are usually announced in the Spring.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) invites applications from community members of all ethnic, cultural and civic groups. Both men and women are encouraged to apply and there are no age restrictions for adults.

Applicants between the ages of 14 and 17 must have a signed consent from a parent or legal guardian and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Academy is geared toward adults and we do not accept those under age 14.

As part of the application process, you must agree to authorize the BCSO to conduct a criminal history check. Felony convictions or other circumstances that would make participation inappropriate may be cause for denial of admission.

Most of the instructors are sworn Deputies of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office who teach in their area of expertise. Other instructors are connected with the Sheriff’s Office either as employees or volunteers, or as members of other agencies in law enforcement or criminal justice.

The first class, and the majority of classes, will meet at the Law Enforcement Building (LEB) Police Conference Room (PCR – first floor), 180 NW 5th Street, Corvallis.

But we’ll also be at the boat docks and at other locations in the County.

There are no formal graduation requirements unless you are attending Citizens’ Academy for college credit.  Often LBCC offers college credit. To successfully complete the program for college credit you must attend both Saturday sessions and at least 6 out of the 8 Tuesday evening sessions.

At this time no colleges or universities are offering credits.

Although many Citizens’ Academy participants choose to volunteer with the Sheriff’s Office after their Academy experience, there is no requirement to do so. We hope that you will share your experiences and what you learn with your neighbors and friends.

It’s free! Because the Benton County Sheriff’s Office strives to include the broadest range of diversity within our community as participants, there is no charge for attending.

In July or August, we will open the class for applications.

At that time, simply complete the Citizens’ Academy Application and submit it to the Sheriff’s Office.

Either email your signed application to the email address listed on the application form

OR

Print, sign, and either mail it or drop it off:
Benton County Sheriff’s Office
ATTN: Citizens’ Academy
180 NW 5th Street
Corvallis, OR 97330

For more information about the BCSO Citizens’ Academy, contact:

Benton County Sheriff’s Office
ATTN: Citizens’ Academy
180 NW 5th Street
Corvallis, OR 97330
541-766-6858

The Linn-Benton Alert will only be used to deliver public safety messages. In many cases, you may already be aware of an emergency situation. Linn-Benton Alert allows public safety officials to provide crucial information about what you should do.

Linn-Benton Alert could be activated to provide emergency safety instructions in a hazardous materials accident or natural disaster. It might be used to alert residents in a geographic area of a missing child or person with dementia. It could be used to alert a neighborhood to a dangerous person at large in the area. Linn-Benton Alert will only be used to deliver public safety messages.

Linn-Benton Alert is an automated system, so the message will be computer-generated but specific to the immediate emergency.  Messages will identify which agency is issuing the alert, what the warning is about, how urgent the message is, and important instructions on what you should do. If you receive an alert, please listen to the entire message for important information.

Only if you register with the service. Linn-Benton Alert is an address-based system and so alerts are automatically sent to landlines only. However, they can be sent to your cell phone or other devices you choose if you subscribe.

By subscribing with Linn-Benton Alert you will be able to select and prioritize where you want messages sent. For example, if you only have a cell phone, by registering in the on-line database you can have alerts sent to your cell. Or you can choose to receive the messages via text or email or TTY device.

You can also indicate if you want to receive alerts from a particular geographic area. For example, if you live in Benton County and your kids go to school there, but you work in Linn County, you can sign up to receive alerts about emergencies near your children’s schools.

There is no cost for you to sign up for the service. This is offered free to you as a public safety service.

Subscriber and land-based information is protected and used only by public safety officials. It is not sold or shared with any other organization or individuals.

Signing up is a simple process. Simply click here and follow the prompts. You can also update and manage your profile.

Please email your question to the support e-mail for your county:

For Benton County: emergencymanagement@bentoncountyor.gov

For Linn County: help@linnsheriff.org