BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is seeking members for its Citizen Police Academy.

Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley announced last week that applications are now being accepted for enrollment in the 11th annual Citizen Police Academy, which will take place at the Monmouth County Police Academy beginning in September, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. The academy is located on Kosloski Road in Freehold Township.

The Citizen Police Academy is a 25-hour block of instruction designed to give attendees an overview of law enforcement services in Monmouth County. It features presentations by municipal, county, state and federal law-enforcement agencies, according to the sheriff’s office.

The course consists of 10 sessions on consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7-9:30 p.m. Classes begin Sept. 7, with graduation slated for Nov. 9.

The academy covers various topics, such as identification theft, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service and women in law enforcement. It also provides a K-9 unit demonstration.

Applications are available to Monmouth County residents ages 21 or older who do not have a criminal record.

The deadline for applying is Aug. 19. Enrollment is limited.

There is no fee for the course, but participants must attend all 10 sessions for successful completion of the program, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office will also offer a youth identification program in Long Branch and Union Beach during National Night Out on Aug. 2. The program consists of a card-size child photo ID that parents or guardians carry with them at all times. In an emergency, the card can be given to local first responders to aid in the rapid location and safe return of a missing child. A digital photo is taken of the youngster and placed on the card, along with basic personal information that has been provided by the child’s parent or guardian.

ID cards will be issued in Union Beach at the beach front on Front Street from 5-9:30 p.m. and in Long Branch at Slocum Park from 6-9 p.m.

For more information about either

program, contact Undersheriff Ted Freeman at (732) 577-5748 or visit www.sheriffoxley.com.