09/02/2026
Sheriff Starry is proud to announce that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will once again be actively supporting the next generation of peace officers and law enforcement personnel, by participating in the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA).
The MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund which has the privilege of awarding up to eighteen $2,000 scholarships in 2026. These scholarships are made possible by the coordinated efforts of all 87 elected Sheriffs of the state of Minnesota.
The MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. Last year our very own Community Service Officer Oliver Jacobson was selected as a scholarship recipient. When asked why he wants to become a Law Enforcement Officer, CSO Jacobson responded, “I feel that I can make a meaningful impact in my community by building good relationships with community members and by keeping the area safe. I feel that becoming a Law Enforcement Officer is one of the most effective ways for me to achieve those goals.”
The MSA acknowledges that some students may need outside help in meeting the costs of training, even though they excel academically. The MSA Scholarship Committee, in making its selection of awards, intends to achieve representation from all geographical areas of the state. The scholarship deadline is November 30th, 2026. Awards will be announced on the MSA web page and on social media at the start of 2027. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Records window. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories:
1. Mandated POST Skills Program
2. In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program.
3. In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program.
To qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff’s office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org
