Citizens Academy
Secret Witness Program
Up to twice a year, the Sheriff’s Office offers the highly desirable Citizen’s Academy. This program is used to educate the public on the many duties and responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office. Many previous graduates of the Citizen’s Academy gained so much knowledge and enthusiasm for law enforcement that they went on to pursue career or volunteer opportunities within the Sheriff’s Office.
The Citizen’s Academy is one night a week for 13 weeks plus a ride along with one of our deputies. Citizen’s Academy members experience firsthand the various teams and units that make up the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office; these include patrol operations, K9, SWAT, Crisis Negotiation Team, Explosive Ordinances Disposal, Crime Scene Investigation, Narcotics and includes a tour of the Placerville Jail and Central Dispatch.
The Citizen’s Academy worked together with the Thrive with 10-35 members to host a special academy for the families of Sheriff’s Office employees. This exclusive opportunity allows the families to experience what their loved one may encounter on any given shift. The goal is to have the family gain a better understanding of the effort and emotions related to this chosen profession.
For more information on the Citizens Academy please email [email protected].
The Secret Witness Program has been in place in South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas for over 30 years. This program is designed to provide incentives for community members in exchange for providing tips that may lead to crime prevention or resolution. Reward money is funded by donations from local businesses and individuals. Secret Witness funds are disbursed and monitored by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of the Lake Tahoe Community members.
The Secret Witness Program relies on the anonymous tips of community members. When a citizen or visitor to the community becomes aware of criminal activity, that individual can make an anonymous phone call to a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week hotline and provide that information. Sheriff’s Office personnel will directly contact the appropriate law enforcement agency responsible for acting on that tip. In the event that a tip leads to the arrest of a criminal, the reporting person will be contacted and offered a reward. This program has led to countless arrest and is extremely beneficial to preventing crime within our county.
To become a secret witness please call the Secret Witness Hotline at: (530) 541-6800
Crime Stoppers
Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers Program began in 1981. It is affiliated with Crime Stoppers USA. The Program now operates as an independent organization.
The concept has developed into a combination of efforts by local media, businesses, civic and social clubs, law enforcement agencies, and the public. Donations of airtime, newspaper space, and reward monies helped establish Crime Stoppers as an effective tool to fight crime in the area.
Crime Stoppers provides a method for local law
enforcement to receive information on crimes.
These efforts increase tips, which in turn
increase arrests in our community.
To submit an anonymous tip please call:
1-800-AA-CRIME or visit www.crimealert.org
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