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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Norah Magin, playing the role of a police officer during a Citizen’s Academy course, approaches a pulled-over vehicle. The citizen’s program exposes participants to all aspects of police work in the community. |
Citizens getting involved in police work
Drunk driving obstacle courses, role playing exercises and weapons training are all part of the Police Departments Citizen Academy, which draws in dozens of participants each year. The program offers residents a closer look at the role of police and how the department functions.
“It’s a great opportunity for residents to see what their police department does,” said Sergeant John Costa, who organizes the Academy’s program. “Often people are reluctant to ask questions for a variety of reasons. This creates an atmosphere for folks to see the department—its functions, its abilities and what we do—and we can answer all their questions.”
Currently there are 27 participants of all ages enrolled in the 8-week program. They learn about traffic and investigations bureaus, tour the police facility and can get to know the faces and names of officials in the police department.
On Wednesday, participants were exposed to a “shoot/don’t shoot” course scenario. The previous week, they drove electric carts and performed DUI sobriety tests while wearing DUI simulation goggles. And an upcoming course will take them to the Upland shooting range for weapons training.
“It allows them to step in the shoes of officers for a moment,” Sgt. Costa said. “We want to expose them to common scenarios that we often deal with like confronting a suspicious person, or doing a car stop or a domestic violence situation.”
Many participants said that the academy was a great way to get a better understanding of what police work is all about. Neighbors Ed Powellson and Alex Robles decided to take the course together to help their abilities heading a neighborhood watch program.
“It’s been great to learn about some of the tools in law enforcement and how they use them in real situations,” Mr. Powellson said. (story continues below)
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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Jeff Welch of Claremont plays the part of a police officer during a training drill for the Police Department’s Citizen Academy program. |
Another participant said the training will help enhance her ability to perform her job. As Assistant Director of Facilities at Claremont McKenna College, Marsha Tudor believes the knowledge she is gaining from the program will open communication channels between the city and the colleges, and will allow her to be more effective in a crisis situation.
Sgt. Costa said the academy was a good way to get residents involved in other volunteer programs of the police department. The largest is the Community Emergency Response Team, whose members receive special training on how to respond to emergency situations. There are currently 45 CERT community volunteers.
Community Patrol Volunteers help the department with day-to-day operations, such as house checks, deliveries and event management. Many of the volunteers are retired people who enjoy keeping active, including a 93-year-old woman who has been involved in the program for years, Sgt. Costa said.
For younger residents, Police Explorers allows people between the ages of 14 and 21 to learn the ropes of police work.
Claremont Police Chief Paul Cooper said the department is constantly looking for more citizens to get involved in the various programs as they provide a vital function to the department’s overall operation and enrollment has been stagnant in recent years.
—Tony Krickl
