Sheriff Fitzgibbons Announces Applications Are Open for 2026 Law Enforcement Scholarship

Otter Tail County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons. (OTC Sheriff’s Office)

Fergus Falls, MN – Otter Tail County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons announced Thursday the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2026.

The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA) Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to 18 – $2,000 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 elected Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota.

Sheriff Fitzgibbons says the MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. It also acknowledges that some students may need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically.

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 program.

To qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program.

Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office. The scholarship deadline is November 30th, 2026.