VIDALIA — Concordia Parish residents wanting to better understand the inner workings of the sheriff’s office will have that opportunity during a seven-week citizen’s academy program.

The free program will take residents over the age of 18 through various departments of the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office including patrol and traffic operations, criminal investigation, crime scene investigation, special operations and narcotics, among others.

Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick said the academy is something previous sheriffs have hosted and also something he hosted at the Ferriday Police Department during his time as chief of police.

“This academy is a great way for citizens to see what we do and how we operate,” Hedrick said. “This administration wants to work with the public and have the public work with us, so we can continue protecting the parish.”

All classes are under the direction of Cpt. Frankie Carroll and will be at the Concordia Parish Community Center at 26356 Louisiana 15 in Ferriday. The community center is located in between Concordia Correctional Facility and River Correctional Center.

The classes in the academy are split up across seven weeks, meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday night Oct. 9 through Nov. 20.

A graduation ceremony will celebrate the successful completion of the course for all participating citizens.

Interested citizens must fill out an application and consent to a background check.

Applications can be picked up at the Concordia Parish Courthouse at either the dispatch room downstairs or upstairs at the sheriff’s office.

“This is part of a bigger plan this administration is going to implement to provide our citizens with programs and services they can benefit from,” Hedrick said. “Getting the citizens of the parish involved in this department is something that will benefit everyone.”

For more information, contact Carroll at 318-336-5280.