Franklin County Junior Deputy Academy Set for Two Weeks in June

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will again offer its 2023 Junior Deputy Academy this summer.

There will be two separate day camps, on June 5-9 and June 26-30, both will take place at Rocky Ford Park.

The Academy is a one-week summer program that offers young people with an interest in a law enforcement career the opportunity to see what it’s like to be an officer.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Dove tells WLHR News the goal is to allow the kids an opportunity to be around and ask questions of law enforcement in a positive setting, as well as to have a fun, safe, and impactful time with their School Resource Officers.

According to Dove, during the day camp, kids will learn a lot about what it’s like to be a law enforcement officer.

The Franklin County Junior Deputy Academy will include a number of fun activities including shooting using airsoft guns, driving a golf cart through a cone course, pinewood derby car building, and racing and playing dodgeball.

Other activities include learning what it’s like to be a Georgia State Patrol trooper, what goes into an investigation, what SWAT does, what a bomb squad does, How K9 tracking and apprehension works, how to use DUI goggles, learning about our local fire departments, and classes on the dangers of vaping.

Dove said the camp will be held from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day.

Lunch is only provided on Fridays so kids will have to bring a bag lunch Monday – Thursday. Dove said they hope to have more businesses sponsor lunches for each day in the future.

The Jr Deputy Academy has been in operation for 18 years in Franklin County and during that time, approximately 1500 kids have been through the program.

The camp is free of charge to all kids 10 and above.

For more information, students can see their school resource officer or they can email harold.jordan@ franklin.k12.ga.us.