Sheriff Mark Harig of Freeborn County has announced the commencement of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship Program for 2008. Sheriff Harig announced that the MSA has established a scholarship fund totaling $9,000 for the awarding of up to 15 $600 scholarships for this year. This is possible due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 sheriffs of Minnesota.

The members of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association give special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the mandated peace officers skills course or two/or four-year law enforcement school degree. The policy adopted by the MSA indicated it was their feeling that enforcement of the law in a democratic society is a complex task. The ability of a peace officer to render effective service responsive to the public’s need depends heavily upon job knowledge and skills. The MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training to the accomplishment of these requisites. It also recognizes that some candidates need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically. To that end, the association stands ready to offer financial assistance in the form of scholarships, as funds allow.

The scholarship committee, in making its selection of awards, intends to achieve representation from all geographical areas of the state. Applications will be received until Nov. 1 of each year, with scholarships awarded by Dec. 31 of the same year. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories: mandated post skills program, in their second year of a two-year law enforcement program, in their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice course.

In order to qualify, students must have completed at least one year of a two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting this criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from the Sheriff’s Office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org and to actively participate in the competition.