The West University Place Police Department will be accepting applications for its first-ever citizen police academy to offer residents what it calls a "behind-the-scenes look" at how their local police department operates, starting July 31.
City officials said the goal of the academy is to strengthen the relationship between the police department and the community by promoting transparency and communication through direct access to officers and staff.
“We appreciate the opportunity to share our mission and the work we do every day,” West U Police Chief Gary Ratliff said in a statement. “The citizen police academy allows us to highlight our commitment to public safety and build stronger relationships with the community we serve.”
The details
A total of 12 community members will be selected from applications, according to the program website, and must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live or work in West U
- Pass a background check
The free, eight-week program will run from July 31-Sept. 18 and meet once a week, Thursday evenings, from 6-8:30 p.m at West U City Hall. Those selected will partake in classroom discussions, facility tours and hands-on demonstrations, according to city officials. Each session will focus on different areas of law enforcement including:
- Patrol operations
- Criminal investigations
- Emergency communications
What residents should know
Registration for the program opens June 9 and can be found on the web page: here.
