Most of us come in contact with the police at times of distress (911 calls) or anger (traffic tickets). A citizen police academy is a way to give people a more realistic view of what officers do — and hopefully to garner support for public safety. The Clayton County Police Department has offered a citizen police academy for 10 years now, free of charge, with courses touching on everything from SWAT to CSI, K-9 to communications.
“It’s not every day that citizens get to sit down with the police to discuss what we do and ways we do our jobs,” explained Chandi Ashmore, a community affairs officer with the Clayton police. Ashmore also coordinates and teaches at the citizen police academy and discussed the latest 10-week program, which got under way earlier this month.
Q: What is the idea behind the citizen police academy?
A: To empower the community and teach them about the police services that we provide here.
Q: Who comes?
A: A variety of people who work or live in Clayton County. We have community members, retirees and college students. We have a lot of interest across a lot of spectrums.
Q: Do you get people who want to be police officers?
A: Occasionally. However we attract people who are interested in learning about Clayton County Police Department.
Q: Why would ordinary citizens take the time to participate?
A: Surprisingly enough, people are actually interested in the police department outside of when they need us. And generally, police headquarters are not places where people hang out. The community may get to see who actually flies the helicopters or to meet the canine handler. The citizen police academy satisfies people’s curiosity about the police.
Q: Do participants get to interact with the police dogs?
A: I don’t know that interact is the right word but they do have an opportunity to see a canine demonstration. Students meet our K-9 officer and they learn about the various aspects of our K- 9 units.
Q: Do participants go out in a patrol car?
A: That is not part of this program but we have a “Ride Along” program.
Q: Are the citizen police academies well attended?
A: We typically have between 15 and 20 seats. We try not to make the classes too large because we like for students to have the opportunity to interact with the instructors one-on-one.
Q: What are the highlights of the academy?
A: Citizens are generally pleased and surprised when they learn as much as they do about the police department. For me, the highlight is always graduation. The students have gone through all of the modules and they can see how the police work in their community.
Q: Citizens don’t graduate thinking they can start policing, do they?
A: No. That requires a lot of specialized training and arrest authority from the State of Georgia.
Q: Do you expect to continue with the program?
A: I would hope it has a lot of longevity. We always have had people who are genuinely interested in what we do.
Q: What do you teach?
A: I teach one of the first modules, an overview of the program and community affairs. I’m a senior law enforcement instructor with the State of Georgia, and I’ve enjoyed teaching in citizen police academy classes since 1996.
Q: Do you have people come who don’t like the police?
A: I’d imagine but the students are receptive. They seem to appreciate our efforts and sacrifices on a different level by the end of the program.
Q: Why did you become a police officer?
A: I’m from Boston. I had seen families with generations of police officers. I did not see a whole lot who looked like me. I thought, I can do this. I will have been a police officer 19 years this fall.
Q: How does the citizen police academy help you do your job?
A: An informed citizen has an opportunity to be more realistic about what they can expect from the police department. They have an opportunity to see how their tax dollars are being spent. If you have someone who is informed and empowered with information, it gives us a better platform when we are out in the community.
The Sunday conversation is edited for length and clarity. Writer Ann Hardie can be reached by email at ann.hardie@ymail.com.
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