JONESBORO, Ark. – If you want a close-up look at how a police department functions, what police officers do and how and why they do it, JPD has a fun and interactive way for you to do that!
The sixth class of the JPD Citizen Police Academy that begins Aug. 31 still has a few openings.
The Citizen Police Academy takes an interactive approach with many opportunities for hands-on activities to reinforce the curriculum taught by police officers and specialized law enforcement personnel. Classes will be conducted once a week on Thursday nights for 12 weeks, covering a wide range of topics including patrol operations, police canine operations, criminal investigations, crime prevention techniques, traffic stops, becoming a better witness, police use of force and SWAT. Students also may choose from electives such as a firing range day and a ride-along with a patrol officer.
The mission of the CPA is to educate the community about the Jonesboro Police Department in order to dispel misconceptions about police officers and police functions, encourage a partnership with the community to enable community-led problem solving and create an environment for positive police and community interaction. The academy will not create police officers, but rather seeks to educate citizens about the policies, procedures and the laws that govern officers’ actions.
In turn, the police department benefits by gaining a better understanding of the views and concerns of our community, making us more accountable to the people we serve.
Participants must be 21 years of age, live or work in Craighead County, have no prior felony arrests and have no serious misdemeanor arrests in the last two years.
The Jonesboro Police Department is serious about this endeavor and will expect the students to be committed to attending the course, with at least 75 percent attendance required to be eligible for graduation in November. Upon graduation, Citizen Police Academy alumni who are interested will be afford volunteer opportunities to assist the police department when needed as CPA Ambassadors.
For additional information or an application, contact Sgt. Cassie Brandon at 336-7148 or cbrandon@jonesboro.org, or pick up an application from the Desk Sergeant at the PD, 1001 S. Caraway Road.
Press Release – Sgt. Cassie Brandon, JPD
Photo by Stan Morris | NEA Report
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