Applications are now being accepted for this year’s Citizens Police Academy. The class begins March 28, but applications must be submitted by March 18.
The sessions are free and offered by McMinnville Police Department. With space limited, enrollment is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“The class usually fills up fast,” said Major Mike Lane. “We can only take about 20 so get those applications in as soon as possible.”
The seven-week session offers hands-on experience about the day-to-day activities associated with law enforcement in an effort to bridge the relationship gap between the police department and the citizens it serves. McMinnville Police Department officers are instructors.
Each Thursday night at 6 p.m., classes offer insight into different areas like defensive tactics, use of traffic radar, criminal investigations, narcotics investigations, DUI enforcement, a mock trial, and firearm safety, as well as trips to the firing range and Warren County Jail.
The department began offering the sessions in 2007 in order to open the lines of communication between the public and police department.
“I think the classes have been very successful,” said Lane. “Everyone in the class seems to enjoy themselves, including the instructors. We have a lot of fun.”
Enjoyment is slightly less than it once was, says McMinnville Police Chief Bryan Denton.
“We had to reduce the classes down from eight weeks to seven,” Denton said. “We didn’t want to do it, but we had to.”
A second change was prompted by the establishment of a Citizens Fire Academy offered by the McMinnville Fire Department. Denton says each department will be offering one academy a year.
“We used to offer two sessions a year,” Denton said. “We don’t want to conflict with the fire department so the decision was made to only hold one police academy a year. The fire department will hold its academy in the fall and we will hold ours in the spring.”
Applications to attend the class can be picked up at the Southern Standard office on College Street, McMinnville Police Department on Red Road, mailed to you by calling 473-3808, or printed from the department’s website at www.mcminnvilletenn.com.