SOUTHWICK – This week, 19 students graduated from the Southwick Citizen Police Academy, bringing the total number of program graduates to 350.
Sgt. Kirk Sanders revived the academy in 2013 and since then, four groups of citizens have graduated. Sanders said the program first began in 2001 and remains a great way for police to connect with the public.
“It’s really about education,” said Sanders. “Citizens learn a lot about our police department and the different duties assigned to our officers.”
Sanders said the citizens academy is eight weeks and citizens spend one night for seven weeks learning the ropes. The last week is a two-night session covering Crime Scene Investigation (CSI).
“The CSI portion of the academy is fairly new,” Sanders said.
The CSI session was well-received, especially by students who are fans of crime television.
“They made plaster molds of footprints and dusted and processed items for fingerprints,” Sanders said. “The second night they worked on a ‘crime’ and tried to figure out how evidence pertained to the case to solve the crime.”
Det. Sgt. Robert Landis and Officer Marc Siegel led the recent academy and, according to Sanders, “did a great job.”
“I love it,” Sanders said of the academy. “It helps us better communicate with people and our officers get to meet the public in a friendly setting.”
The Southwick Citizen Police Academy is open to any Southwick resident age 17 and older, or anyone who works in Southwick age 17 and older. The next session is set to begin the second week of October.
“Applications are available in the station lobby and I recommend people do not wait until October – it fills up fast,” said Sanders.
