Third police academy class offered
McMinnville Police Department will be offering its third Citizens Police Academy course. Sign-ups are beginning now with the class scheduled to start Feb. 21.
The course provides citizens with hands-on experience as to daily challenges of law enforcement officers. Taking the course creates well-informed citizens who possess greater insight into police practices and duties.
Among the things offered during the academy, participants will study criminal law, patrol procedures, narcotics and vice investigations, accident reconstruction, criminal investigations and crime scene processing.
For those taking this class, there will be one night dedicated to defensive tactics.
‘We’ve had this in the first class but not in the second,’ said Police Department Sgt. Lisa Norris. ‘However, in the first class we only touched on it. During this course, one night will be dedicated to it.’
The purpose of the academy is to foster better communication between citizens and police through education. The department believes education is effective in gaining understanding and support from the community.
The hope for participants is that they, after becoming informed as to why things are handled the way they are, will be able to pass that knowledge along to others.
‘We plan on taking participants from the ground up when it comes to police procedure,’ said McMinnville Police Chief Charlie Sewell. ‘We will offer a different area of procedure every week.’
Each class will be a two-and-a-half hour session, an increase of 30 minutes, every Thursday evening for 10 weeks beginning at 6 p.m., April 26.
The hours of the class were increased because the only complaint about the class was that it was not long enough, said Sewell.
Certified police officers, supervisors and civilian instructors with particular expertise will conduct each topic. Classes are free but are limited.
For more information, contact Special Services Division Commander Capt. Mike Lane at 473-3808. An application can be sent by mail, or can be picked up and dropped off at 211 West Colville Street.