Police Academy gives citizens look from inside

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of reports that will highlight the activities of the Citizen Police Academy through its 14-week course. The writer is a member of the class.

COLUMBUS -- Weapons and crisis simulation, DWI investigation, crime scene investigation procedures, a ride along and time with the 911 operators are just a few of the experiences in store for 16 Columbus residents enrolled in this year’s annual Citizen Police Academy.

The participants in this year’s academy represent a broad spectrum of occupations, interests and motives for their enrollment in the 14-week course.

“I wouldn’t say that there is a stereotypical type of person who is interested in the Citizen Police Academy,” said Cpt. Charles Sherer, coordinator of the Columbus Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy. “We see people from all walks of life from college students to retired individuals, and that’s the way we want this to be. It’s our hope that the program will reach a broad cross section of the community.”

Sherer said an average of 14 participants enroll each year.

The stated goal of the academy program is to educate Columbus citizens about the structure and activities of the police department and to provide the participants with a working knowledge of the overall criminal justice system. Other objectives are to highlight the importance of the needed ongoing partnership with the community and provide insight to the student on the training law enforcement officers

undergo and the internal workings of the police department.

A hands-on approach is taken in the program, which includes the use of firearms, emergency vehicle operations and driving techniques, defensive tactics and the crime scene practicum.

Sherer said the purpose of the academy is not for in-depth training but rather to allow participants to see a snippet of the training and preparation that goes into being a uniformed officer in the police department.

“One of the most positive impacts of the program for the participants from our point of view is the tearing down of stereotypes that many people have from watching television,” Sherer said. “The academy has become a very effective tool for education about our personnel and procedures and the role and function of the department in the community.”

“The program offers a very unique perspective of the many variables involved in the split-second decisions that our officers encounter on a daily basis.

Sherer said with each class there are certain number of participants who are unable to finish the course. He said, most often the cause is the intense time commitment that the academy requires.

“This is not a graded pass or fail course,” Sherer said. “But we know that if a person is not able to commit to the time required they’re not going to get the full benefit or the correct picture of what we’re trying to put forth.”

Academy rules state that a participant cannot miss more than three of the three-hour weekly sessions. Those who drop out of the program for this reason are invited to enroll in the next academy that fits their time constraints.

“I think that we on the inside of the police department have been somewhat surprised over the years that the students who take the academy are very interested by some the things we teach, which to us, may have become somewhat routine,” Sherer said. “I’m sure this will be a great year for the academy and the new participants.”

The Citizen Police Academy is free to those who participate. Funding for the program and materials is provided for within the department’s budget and through specified donations to the program.