The St. Marys County Sheriffs Office conducted the concluding session and graduation ceremony for its 2025 Citizens Academy on October 2, 2025, at the agencys headquarters in Leonardtown, wrapping up an eight-week initiative aimed at educating residents on law enforcement operations.
Participants in the program toured various facilities, including the sheriffs district stations, the Emergency Communications Center, the Detention and Rehabilitation Center, and the Crime Lab. They also visited the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy in La Plata for insights into officer training processes. Classroom sessions addressed topics such as traffic safety enforcement, collision reconstruction techniques, and special operations procedures. The academy, offered annually and free of charge, allows community members to engage directly with deputies and staff, fostering transparency in daily operations.
One graduate, Sean Ritchie, reflected on the experience, saying, I want to be informed… Now I understand what is going on behind the scenes, whereas before I didn’t understand police work. Another participant, Jackson Hicks, stated, Ensuring the safety of the public is the most critical function of government, and I was incredibly thankful to learn more about all that this county does for its citizens and the people who make it possible.
The sheriff’s office recognized 12 graduates: Mary Anderson, Adyson Bond, Rowena Bossio, Paula Dickens, Stacey Dickens, Jackson Hicks, Kathryn Junek, Kurt Prescher, Sean Ritchie, Donald Sheehan, Lawrence Stauffer, and Malia Wills. Lawrence Stauffer was not present for the group photo at the ceremony.
The Citizens Academy, held on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. between August and October, provides an inside view of the agencys functions for residents aged 18 and older. Applications for the program open in July, with sessions conducted at the sheriffs office headquarters at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown. The initiative includes hands-on elements, such as demonstrations of K-9 units and equipment like the TruNarc narcotics analyzer, as featured in the 2025 final class. Registration for the 2025 session filled quickly, leading to a waitlist for interested applicants.In St. Marys County, where rural and waterfront communities define much of the landscape, the sheriffs office collaborates with state agencies like the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack for joint operations. Training at the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy, visited by participants, includes entrance-level courses for recruits and in-service education for experienced officers, covering firearms, defensive tactics, and legal updates. The Emergency Communications Center handles 911 dispatches, coordinating responses across the countys three districts.
The 2025 academy builds on prior sessions, with the sheriffs office announcing applications for future programs via its website and social media. Residents interested in participating can contact the agency at 301-475-8008 or visit the official site for details.
