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February 1 – 14, 2014
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Chandler PD accepting applications for next Citizens Police Academy BY TRACY HOUSE
Chandler residents interested in taking a look inside the day-to-day operations of the Chandler Police Department can immerse themselves in the Citizens Police Academy, a 12week academy that runs Wed., Feb. 12, through April 30. Sgt. Greg Howarth, crime prevention unit supervisor in community resources, facilitates the citizens academy. “We’d really like to see anybody who’s interested,” Howarth says. “It gives them a good insight and one of the ways they can get a better understanding of what law enforcement is about, not only about policemen, but what these officers do and what the different specialty assignments do.” Howarth says this is class No. 52 and estimates that at least 1,300 people have participated in the academy. He’s had citizens from ages 18 to 70-plus participate in the academy, including couples and people interested in becoming a police officer. “We have room for 25 people. We will take some beyond 25 in case someone drops out,” Howarth says. Applicants must be 18 years or older, pass a basic background check in order to participate, and work, live or attend
school in Chandler. The free academy classes include media and the law, firearms training, gang awareness, patrol functions, K-9 functions, criminal investigations, school violence, traffic law and use of force. Different instructors from the various departments will be teaching the classes and expounding on their specialty. Howarth says the school resource officer (SRO) from Hamilton High School, who is the national school resource officers’ president, provides information about school violence. “Each topic that we cover, their instructors come from those specialties. We usually use the same instructors so they have experience teaching.” As each class continues, the most recent and relevant topics are discussed. “We want to make it the best possible experience,” Howarth says. “The current stuff is what they’re really interested in.” Chandler’s academy provides a comprehensive overview for participants. “This is one of the longer citizen police academies in the state,” Howarth says. “An average would be eight to 10 weeks…the feedback we get from the citizens is they wish they had more weeks, more time for
more classes and instruction by the officers.” The citizens academy program is a separate program from the volunteer program. “It’s an overview of everything the police department does and the services we provide to the community as well as those who work and live in Chandler,” Howarth explains. Howarth mentions that there are a lot of resources for the participants. This informational, educational academy offers citizens the opportunity to understand what they can do in their neighborhood and how to work as a team with the Chandler Police Department to reduce crime. “We are the lowest in the Valley and the state, for crime in Chandler and that says a lot about the partnerships we have,” mentions Howarth. “The better understanding they (citizens) have and the better we can educate them about what we do, then they don’t have misconceptions.” The academy is engaging and interactive for participants who will visit the fire arms range (although they are not allowed to fire a weapon) and the Special Assignment Unit (SAU) bay, for a tour including seeing the equipment and gear used by the department. Participants can also
choose to go on a five-hour ride along or sit on a four-hour dispatch shift to add to the citizens academy experience. Classes are 6 to 9 p.m. beginning Wed., Feb. 12, at the department’s Main Station, 250 E. Chicago St. Citizens who complete the academy receive a certificate and enjoy dinner and a guest speaker at the conclusion of the academy. The Citizens Police Academy is open for applications. Contact the department’s crime prevention unit at 480-782-4690 with questions. Applications are available online at chandlerpd.com/community/citizensacademy or for more information visit it on Facebook at facebook.com/ chandlerpd. Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.