The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office’s next S.T.A.R. Academy is Aug. 3-14.

The training is Monday–Friday from 9am-noon, with an afternoon driver proficiency training and law enforcement support visits.

The training will be at the Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Academy training is diversified with instruction and interactive participation provided by experienced senior S.T.A.R.s and deputies. The academy will conclude with a formal uniformed graduation on Aug. 14.

S.T.A.R.s are the “eyes and ears” of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. They patrol the highways and byways of El Dorado County in specially marked vehicles.

Duties involve patrolling the county roads looking for bear break-ins, checking trailheads for cars that may have been broken into, vehicle abatement, manning roadblocks for downed power lines and trees, assisting in search and rescue operations, participating in school lockdown drills, and traffic control; during forest fires, at accident scenes, for emergency helicopter landings, and checking on homes while the owners are on vacation.

S.T.A.R.s assist at community events with parking or traffic control, participate in local parades, the Drug Store Project, Sober Grad Night, Day of the Young Child, Treat Street, and the annual Air Fest.

Applicants must be 50 years or older, have a good driving record, no criminal history, a physical clearance from a doctor, and pass an oral interview and background investigation. Mandatory participation requirements are: volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month, attend a monthly station meeting, and purchase a uniform.

For more info or an application, call 530.573.3005.