Sgt. Kirk Sanders, left, an instructor of the 15th Citizen’s Police Academy, and Southwick Police Department intern Matt Olson, seated center front, join members of the graduating class, in random order, Carrie Bradbury, Katharen Clifford, Chelsea Collins, Derrick Davidson, Lisa Davidson, Mitch Davidson, Joyce Dudgeon, Glennice Flynn, Pauline Forgue, Lorna Hamel, Lisa Hough, Jeanne Lane, Chuck Margarites, Julie Martell, Joanne Melanson, Virginia Orson, Rebecca Perron, Susan Sanders, Eldora Shattuck, Marge Snow and Tami Westcott for a group photo prior to last night’s graduation ceremony at the Southwick Town Hall. Missing from the photo was graduating student Mark Frasco.
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Police Department (SPD) Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) made a long overdue return this fall with much success.
Last night 23 graduates received certificates for completing the 15th CPA, the first held in five years.
Sgt. Kirk Sanders led the eight-week course with assistance from other officers and SPD staff. Sanders thanked Police Chief David Ricardi yesterday for bringing the CPA back. Ricardi touted Sanders for the program’s success.
“This man is a true believer,” Ricardi said. “He believes in the police department, his job, his fellow officers, the police academy, his students and most of all, his family.”
A graduate from the 15th Citizen’s Police Academy, left, speaks to a room full of graduates and guests during a graduation ceremony at the Southwick Town Hall last night. The program was sponsored by the Southwick Police Department and yielded 23 graduates. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
The CPA had a diverse group of students, ranging in age from 18-86. Some came from The American Inn and Rosewood Estates. Some were wives of SPD officers, and some took the course as a family.
Matt Olson, 18, said the CPA was a “privilege.”
An intern for the SPD, Olson said his experience with daily operations at the station, coupled with the CPA, solidified his career track.
“Before this I wasn’t positive I wanted to go into law enforcement, but now I know I do,” Olson said.
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School senior plans to attend a community college next year and transfer to a university to study criminal justice.
“I learned a lot from this,” Olson said of the academy. “Being an intern I learned a lot about what the police officers do, but this was different – watching what police officers do was really the best part.”
For Eldora Shattuck, 86, the CPA proved it’s never to late to learn and become involved.
“It was very interesting,” said Shattuck, a Westfield native who lives at The American Inn. “The best part, though, was being together with everyone else who wanted to learn. It was a wonderful program.”
Shattuck said she especially enjoyed the classes on the dive team and K9 unit.
The CPA included classes on use of force and made a trip to the firing range, visited Wilderness Experiences to see the dive team in the water, reviewed police protocol, criminal law and the justice system, and more.
Graduate Derek Davidson spoke during the ceremony and referred to the ladies from The American Inn as “the pistol-packing mamas” and spoke about how much fun the students had while learning about the importance of the SPD.
“For 20 years I have torn down businesses and rebuilt them, and Chief, I can see this is what you’re doing,” Davidson said to Ricardi.
Davidson said he “highly recommended” the CPA to all residents and complimented the instructors, noting that the visit from K9 officer Jax was his favorite part of the course.
Glennice Flynn was another graduate who spoke last night. She said she was amazed by the intricacies of the department, especially the dispatch center. Flynn also recognized Ricardi for reinstating the course.
“We are lucky to have a police chief who sees the value in the CPA,” Flynn said.
Joanne Melanson – one of the pistol-packing mamas – was introduced as “the feisty one.” Melanson colorfully described her experience at the CPA, but in all seriousness, said she learned a lot throughout the program.
Fellow graduate Lisa Hough said the class was “amazing” and thanked Sanders for his dedication.
“Kirk is kind, generous, caring and knowledgeable,” she said.
Sanders was assisted by instructors, including dispatcher Keith Stromgen, Sgt. Rhett Bannish, Clerk Office Manager Irene Provost, K9 Officer Tom Krutka, Officer Paul Miles, Sgt. Don Day, Detective Sgt. Bob Landis, and officers Greg Burt, Roger Arduini, Mike Taggert and Mike Westcott.
Following the ceremony at Town Hall, which included a slide presentation that resulted in many laughs, refreshments were served.
Ricardi announced last night that another CPA was set for the spring and residents could apply via the SPD website in January.
