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
2026 Class Session Dates
- Class #93 will begin Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Applications are now open and will be accepted until capacity is reached.
Applications are taken on a first come first serve basis.
ACADEMY SUMMARY
This educational program will offer participants a unique behind-the-scenes look at the many facets of modern policing to show you how we utilize the latest in technology, training, and modern policing concepts to prevent, investigate, and solve crime. You’ll meet our personnel, tour our facilities, and see many of the tools and equipment we use in our daily operations. Class participants will also experience interactive demonstrations from the Special Operations Unit (SWAT, Aviation, Range and Water, K9 and the Hazardous Devices), in addition to visiting our gun range and driving track where deputies are trained. Also, 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)
- Investigative Services (Major Crimes, Digital Forensics, and Financial Crimes)
- Visit to Special Operations (Canine, Range and Water, Hazardous Device Unit, and Aviation)
- Offender Management & Intelligence Section
- Traffic Safety and DUI Enforcement (demonstration of fatal vision goggles)
- Forensic Services and Victim Advocate
- Department of Youth 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)
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.