Publication select ▼
A group of 32 Warren residents recently graduated from the Citizens Police Academy.
Photo provided by city of Warren Communications Department
WARREN — A group of 32 Warren residents recently completed an eight-week Citizens Police Academy where they learned aspects of police work and celebrated with a graduation ceremony at Warren City Hall on April 2.
Mayor Lori Stone, Warren Police Commissioner Charles Rushton and other members of the Police Department were in attendance to support the graduates, who range in age from their 20s to their 70s. Each participant received a certificate for their attendance and participation.
The Citizens Police Academy is a community policing initiative that brings the public and the Police Department closer. In the program, citizens learned about some of the duties of an officer.
According to a release from the Warren Police Department, “Connecting with the community in a fun and interactive way, all the while providing insight and education, is the essence of community policing.”
Although the graduates of the program have no police authority, Rushton said, “It’s just to educate the public on what police officers do day to day. It teaches them a little bit about criminal law, traffic stops, drunk driving investigations, and some of our K-9 work.”
One of the biggest highlights occurred when participants engaged in a virtual use of force and shoot-don’t-shoot simulation via the department’s VirTra training simulator, according to police.
“For the Warren Police Department there is little cost for the program,” said Rushton. “The community policing program organizes the program and depending on the subject matter, all of our instructors are in-house. It’s part of the community policing officer’s duties.”
The next Citizen’s Police Academy will start in the fall, according to Rushton.
