The Fayetteville Police Department is set to begin another round of its Citizens Police Academy, now in its fourth year. The academy is an effort to increase community involvement with the department and offer insight into the services it provides.
Fayetteville Police spokesperson Capt. Steve Crawshaw said the purpose of the academy is to foster better communication between citizens and police through a variety of sessions that help citizens to better understand the workings and responsibilities of the department.
“The academy will create a nucleus of well-informed citizens who possess greater insight into police practices and services,” Crawshaw said. “Graduates of the academy can share their knowledge and experiences with the community as the opportunity arises. Everyone benefits from enhancing citizen understanding of the role and function of their police department.”
Crawshaw said the instruction is comprehensive, covering a different operational area of the police department each week. Certified police officers, supervisors, and civilian instructors with particular expertise will conduct classes on a variety of topics such as the processing of crime scenes, traffic accident investigation, K-9 procedures and activities, discussion and demonstrations on the use of force by police and citizens, investigative procedures used by detectives and the structure of the police department.
The 12-week academy is free of charge and, beginning April 1, will be held each Thursday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Police Department located at 760 Jimmie Mayfield Blvd. Those interested in attending can pick up an application at the police department during normal business hours. The class is limited to the first 20 qualified applicants. The deadline for turning in applications is March 22 at 5 p.m.
Additional activities such as “ride-alongs” with officers and firearms training will be included in the academy, Crawshaw said.
For more information on the Citizens Police Academy contact Capt. Steve Crawshaw at 770-461-4441.
