If you check Wikipedia for information about Citizen’s Academies you will read, “Citizen’s Police Academy is a program designed to acquaint community residents who are not sworn police officers with the activities of their local police department. The programs vary by department.” Thank you, anonymous author! That is a pretty good definition.
Law enforcement agencies have been hosting or running citizen’s academies for many years, but especially in the last two decades there has been an increased effort by law enforcement agencies to connect with the public that they serve. Many times there are unrealistic expectations by the public and the agencies that serve them. By being more transparent, and by reaching out to connect with each other, communities and law enforcement can build strong bonds and remove barriers to understanding.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and Spokane Police Department (SPD) both have been putting on their own Citizen’s Academies separate from each other. If you live in the city of Spokane, I highly recommend you attend the SPD Academy. If you live anywhere in Spokane County, I encourage you to attend the SCSO Citizen’s Academy, which I have first hand knowledge of, because I have been helping to organize them since spring of 2015.
Twice per year the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office runs citizen’s academies. In the spring they vary from five to eight sessions and each and every session explores another facet of “officer involved shootings.” Those sessions are one night per week, three hours per night. During those sessions topics such as the so-called 21 foot rule (hint: no such “rule” exists. It’s a guideline based on work by Sgt Dennis Tueller), and different force options. One or more officers who have been involved in a shooting on-duty will come and talk about their experience and how it impacted them. The citizens in attendance can ask any questions they want, and they can get frank and honest answers. Also, citizens will have an opportunity to experience a firearms training simulator, where they engage in a live-action scenario on screen with actors and the software is responsive according to the actions “you” take in the role of the police officer on-scene. There is a wide variety of scenes for you and your fellow classmates to experience. Also, we will give you an opportunity to role-play with deputies who play members of the public, while members of the public play law enforcement officers. Typically, of all the sessions, these sessions are considered the most impactful.
For the fall citizen’s academy, we introduce you to many of the different functions and units within the Sheriff’s Office, from K9, to Major Crimes, Air Support Unit, SWAT, Traffic Enforcement, Marine Enforcement, Field Training Program, Forensics, Sex Crimes, School Resource Deputies and more. In each session, you will get to hear first-hand from the deputies that do the work by day and by night in Spokane County. These deputies and other personnel will talk to you about their job, goals, struggles and their triumphs. You can engage with them and ask the questions you’ve always wondered about.
The fall citizen’s academy takes place for eight weeks. In 2019, the Fall Citizen’s Academy will be every Monday night from September 30th to November 18th, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, you must register in advance and you are expected to attend at least seven of the eight sessions. To register, send me an email at dwmorris@spokanesheriff.org.
I believe every person should experience a citizen’s academy. It will allow you to meet many deputies in a friendly, environment and you can hear about their jobs in their own words. Please register early. There is a limitation of only 30 seats in the class this fall. See you there!
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