Several towns in Hendricks County offer citizen academy programs in police and fire departments, teaching everyday citizens the ins and outs of the operations that protect residents.
However, the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy, moving into its second year, is a different ballgame.
“This is different from what you’ve seen at the local police academy. It’s an exclusive opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of what we do at the sheriff’s office,” said Hendricks County Sheriff Jack Sadler.
Think of it as the location where it all comes together.
If there’s an arrest in Brownsburg, the individual is taken to the Hendricks County Jail, managed by the sheriff’s office.
If paperwork is served by the Hendricks County court system, it’s a Hendricks County Deputy who knocks on your door.
The Hendricks County deputies cover the unincorporated areas within the 408 square miles of the county and provide security for the Hendricks County Government Center and courthouse. With 148 employees, you can imagine the many moving parts required to successfully do the job.
It’s important for them to connect with the community, to create understanding and open lines of communication.
The 10-week course is once per week from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
“We’ve adjusted the classes from our inaugural year so you’re not sitting in a classroom week after week. You might be down at the range one week and in the classroom the next. We delve into a lot of different topics including crash reconstruction, drones, traffic stops and the multiple divisions at the sheriff’s office from the jail to enforcement to civil,” Sadler said.
Take a tour of the jail and the courthouse, watch a K-9 demonstration, do a mock traffic stop to understand exactly what an officer can see and how quickly the situation can evolve, and follow a crime scene investigation from start to finish.
“We culminate everything together into a case study. It’s one we worked here, and you learn everything it took to get a conviction on the suspect,” Sadler said. “I think it surprises people to see how contentious they are, the detail, the technology we use today and all the avenues we can use to find evidence. Putting a case like that together last year was something that really interested last year’s class.”
There’s an educational component, too. Sadler said they can’t be everywhere, every second of the day. Having members of the community who understand just what they do and have built trust with the sheriff’s office opens up dialogue and allows people to be more comfortable in sharing what’s going on in their neighborhoods.
The Citizens Academy was something he had in mind from the beginning.
When Sadler was running for sheriff, an elected position in the county, connecting and communicating transparency with the public was one of his top goals.
Ironically, sitting down as an administrative group after his election, Sadler said they learned several leaders on the sheriff’s team had the same idea individually.
“This was something we hadn’t done in the past, and I said coming in, I wanted to do more things to make connections with our members of the community. It was neat to see so many of our members say, ‘I want to help, I want to be a part of this.’ They did a lot of great work to put this program together, and it’s a reflection of the team we have here,” Sadler said.
The Hendricks County sheriff grew up in Danville, graduated from the high school in 1992 and has served as a police officer for 29 years. He’s seen the growth in every town across the county and watched law enforcement receive some negative backlash over the years.
Luckily, Hendricks County citizens have shown support and interest when it comes to understanding what our first responders do each day.
“We are blessed to serve here. Not many get to serve a community that supports them like Hendricks County supports us,” Sadler said.
That’s why it’s important to Sadler and the entire sheriff’s office to get to know the people from Avon to Coatesville and everywhere in between. They want to form relationships and develop trust in the community.
“These are your neighbors, their kids go to school with your kids, they’re coaching baseball and basketball. A program like this can make a big difference as others gain a new perspective and really understand how law enforcement works today,” Sadler said.
Anyone in the county is welcome to apply.
Applications will open June 1. Visit the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page to access the application and get additional information.
The first class will be held Aug. 7, 2025.
“What I really love about this is how our citizens get to see the heart and soul of the dedicated men and women who are serving them. They get to take a look inside and see that heart,” Sadler said.
Sadler is also hosting one-day Citizens Firearms courses. Following their Facebook page will alert citizens to more opportunities to learn about safety, the law and how the sheriff’s department deals with such situations.
