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Citizens Police Academy Informs and Instructs

   Written by on May 29, 2015 at 10:43 am

The Farmville Police Department recently announced the graduates of the 3rd Citizen’s Police Academy. Participating members, local residents of the Farmville area, concluded their classes with a small graduation ceremony at the Farmville train station.

The Citizen’s Police Academy is an informative program that is being offered by an increasing number of police departments across the nation to their local residents. The goal of the program is “… to provide citizens with a general knowledge of the day to day operation of the Farmville Police Department, all in an effort to enhance our abilities to better serve our communities.” During the sessions, participants, ages 15 through 21, are able to study numerous topics such as, hiring, training, uniform operations, special operations, traffic enforcement, radar, criminal law and investigation, even forensics and court room testimony. The time is divided between classroom time and practical exercises in the field. Some students will even have the opportunity to complete a ride along with an officer on duty. The experience is hoped to be beneficial to inquisitive citizens as well as those that may be considering a job in law enforcement.

Corporal Radden of the Farmville Police Department is an instructor for the Farmville Citizens Academy. He believes strongly in the potential benefits of the program, which began as a collaborative effort of the Boy Scouts of America, the Adult Learning Council, and Local Law enforcement and often works as a precursor to the Virginia State Police Explorer program, created for citizens that may be contemplating a future in law enforcement.

In an interview with the Southside Messenger, Corporal Radden explained the benefits of the classes. “The Citizen’s Academy is an excellent way to give local residents an understanding of what their police department does on a day to day basis. The Explorer program is more intensive. We try to give these students the tools they will need to successfully complete their training and become a police officer.” He added, “One of our graduates recently moved into an internship with the NSA. This is a good program.”

For more information on the Farmville police citizen’s academy, contact Detective C.W. Moss at the Farmville police Department at 434-392-2109 or email at cmoss@farmville.va.com

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