WS Chronicle

The Police Department is accepting applications for the spring session of the Citizens’ Police Academy, which will start April 4.

The Citizens’ Police Academy is a 13-week program that meets once a week to better acquaint citizens with the law enforcement profession and the role of the Police Department within the community.

The Citizens’ Police Academy curriculum is similar to training for new police officers, with a mix of classroom and scenario/hands-on training on such topics as department functions, search and seizure laws, use of force, firearms training, crime prevention, domestic violence, criminal investigations, vice/narcotics operations and K-9 and special operations. Participants will have an opportunity to ride with a patrol officer. The classes are taught by officers and civilian employees throughout the department.

The weekly sessions are intended to help create a citizenry that is familiar and comfortable with the Police Department. The classes are not designed to train participants to be police officers.

Classes will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday evenings at the Public Safety Center or the Alexander R. Beaty Public Safety Training and Support Center. Enrollment is open to any citizen 18 years of age or older who resides, works or attends school in Winston-Salem. Anyone interested in attending the Citizens’ Police Academy may call the Winston-Salem Police Department for an application at 336-773-7935, or complete an application online at www.WSPD.org.

The class is limited to 30 students. Applications must be submitted by March 1.