The Noblesville Police Dept. is accepting applications for the next Citizens Police Academy for interested members of the community. Lt. Bruce Barnes, who runs the academy, said the 11-week course is free of charge and designed to provide community members with an opportunity to become better acquainted with our professional staff and to learn about police procedures.
“The academy will familiarize citizens with the operations of the police department,” he said. “This includes classes on patrol procedures, criminal law, narcotics, search and seizure, tactical operations, investigations, juvenile law, firearms demonstration, emergency vehicle operations, use of force issues and police canine demonstration.”
Participants also will have the option to ride with a patrol officer and witness the street-activity that officers encounter on a day-to-day basis.
“The objective of the Citizens Police Academy is not to create quasi-cops, but to produce informed citizens. The academy is intended to open lines of communication between the community and the police department. By allowing citizens a firsthand look at the police department and how its operations are handled, citizens take away a better understanding of the police role in the community,” he said.
Additionally, Barnes said citizens bring a wealth of knowledge about their community and particularly, the problems in their neighborhood.
“In this way, police are able to learn and better understand the concerns of the citizens,” he said.
Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years old, have no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions within the past three years, pass a background check and reside or be employed in Noblesville.
The academy will begin on Sept. 9 and will conclude on Nov. 18 with a graduation ceremony. Classes will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday evening. Applications are available online at www.cityofnoblesville.org/police or at the Noblesville Police Dept., 135 S. Ninth St.
“Class size is limited so be sure to apply as soon as possible,” Barnes said.
For further information, contact Barnes at 776-6340, ext. 1261 [email protected].
