Citizen’s Police Academy underway

This last week Arizona Highway Patrol Officer Tom Neve (right) and Winslow Police Department Corporal Marty Lee (left) discussed Traffic Law, the topic the entire class seemed to be deeply in thought over.

Winslow Police Department Sergeant Afton Foster, instructed the class on how the police department responds to Domestic Violence calls. He said the Winslow Police Department responds aggressively because most police officers are killed by responding to these calls.

The goal of this course, according to Sergeant Foster, is for the “citizens to gain further knowledge of what we are doing and that will not only help themselves but, will help the police department in serving the community.”

The course is also designed to make the citizens aware of why law enforcement agencies handle certain situations the way that they do. Overall, citizens participating in the program should end the course with a clearer picture of law enforcement in their community.

Although, the program is off to a good start. Corporal Marty Lee said he was disappointed that there were not more citizens enrolled in the course. He did point out, however, he appreciates the citizens enrolled and hopes that they will see just what police officers have to endure on a daily basis.

Citizens enrolled in this course will get a good look at how well trained the police officers have to be in order to do their jobs successfully.

In order to become a police officer one must complete a challenging 13-17 week academy of both classroom and physical training, a mix of college and boot camp. After that, officers go through a 13-week field training here in Winslow and then there is the mandatory monthly training that all members of the police department must endure.

The Arizona Highway Patrol academy is similar but is just a little longer.

Winslow citizen Mara Barger, who is enrolled in the academy, said she has a higher appreciation for the two law agencies. Her goals for the class are to understand why the two law enforcement agencies do the things they do and to become a better citizen.

The two law enforcement agencies hope to have a better turn out for next year’s course. They are already looking at ways they can get the community more involved and interested in what their local law enforcement agencies are doing for their community.

For those who did not get a chance to enroll in the academy and would like to learn more about criminal law, they can go on a ride along with the Winslow Police Department. You can pick up a citizens waver ride along form at the police department at 115 E. Second Street.

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