Metro Police are looking for folks in the community who want to find out more about the criminal justice system.

The department is taking applications for its Citizens Police Academy, a 13 week program that lets neighbors interact with police.

Academy participants will meet with officers from the different units within Metro Police and learn about what they do.

The academy includes a tour of the 911 center, the Chatham County Jail, firearms training, traffic stop role playing, and a ride-a-long with a patrol officer.

The class starts September 16 and meets Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Savannah-Chatham Police Department Squad Room, 201 Habersham Street.

The cost is $10, and only checks or money orders are accepted.

Applications can be picked up at a precinct or by calling Gianna Nelson at 912-651-2246.

An application can also be downloaded from the SCMPD website, www.scmpd.org.

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Sgt. Derek Bastinck introduces Councilwoman Jeanne Baratta (left) and Deputy Mayor Lisa Swain at the graduation. Joshua Castillo reads his essay about the academy with Officer Glen Callons looking on. Neal Patel is congratulated at the ceremony. Lt. Robert Kneer congratulates Kelly Smith and Ryan Smith on their participation. Kimberly Schor shows off the certificate she received during the graduation.

Fair Lawn – A record number of students graduated from the Fair Lawn Police Department’s Junior Police Academy

“It was our biggest one,” said Sgt. Derek Bastinck of the Community Policing Unit about the ninth graduating class that included the maximum permitted with 50 students.

A commencement ceremony was held Aug. 13 to mark the end of a weeklong academy. The program, which is open to residents ages 11 to 15, gives participants a chance to interact with law enforcement officials and learn more about what it takes to be an officer.

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Bastinck said one of the benefits of the academy is the relationship it can foster between the young residents and officers.

“They get to meet the officers in town,” he said. “They get to see how everything works in town.”

The program is free for participants. It is funded by the Fair Lawn Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention as well as clothing bins located around the community.

Cadets in the academy began each day with physical training and drills.

“The kids learn how to move around in groups,” said Bastinck.

The week started with a tour of police headquarters on Monday. The group then went to Bergen County Superior Court on Tuesday and met two judges. The trip also included a stop at the Bergen County Criminal Investigations, added Bastinck. There they learned about DNA, fingerprinting and ballistics.

“They gave us a tour,” he said.

At the Bergen County Police Academy in Mahwah on Wednesday the group witnessed class training and a K-9 demonstration with Sgt. David Donow, a former Fair Lawn police officer. They also saw a demonstration by the Bergen County SWAT Team.

The display included watermelons being shot to show what happens.

“It was a pretty powerful demonstration,” said Bastinck.

On Thursday, cadets had a chance to meet the volunteer groups in the community, including the Fair Lawn Rescue Squad and Fair Lawn Fire Department. The day also included a visit with representatives from a martial arts school.

“They did an incredible demonstration,” said Bastinck. “They got the whole class involved.”

During the week cadets also completed an obstacle course, skills competitions and team building exercises.

The week ended with the graduation ceremony and pizza party at Memorial Middle School where each participant received a certificate and some awards were presented.

Councilwoman Jeanne Baratta and Deputy Mayor Lisa Swain as well as Bergen County Undersheriff Ralph Rivera Jr. attended the graduation to congratulate the participants.

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Reach Mark Reagan at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail at mark.reagan@dodgeglobe.com.

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Sometimes it’s about an officer’s driving. Sometimes it’s an attitude during a stop. Sometimes, it’s unfair. Sometimes, it’s warranted.

Even those in uniform will tell you, it happens. For whatever reason, we all have a bad day at some point.

Here’s a note I got sometime back from Walt, of Yukon, who gives his insight:

“I am a member of the Yukon Citizens Police Academy and I have a son that is a police officer in another state. Both have given me an opportunity to ride along with the officers as they conduct their normal shifts,” Walt said.

“It is amazing how drivers react when they are stopped by an officer for a traffic violation. I have been with the officers that stopped a vehicle for doing 88 mph in a 45 mph zone, 52 mph in a 35 mph construction zone, driving without lights, no license plates and all other sorts of violations.

“Most, if not all the violations, are caught on tape, speeds are recorded on radar, or something similar. Yet, many of the drivers insist they have done nothing wrong and say the officer is mistaken. I have been with the police officers in chases where the driver fails to stop, drug busts, and many other criminal activities. Again, it is usually caught on tape but the violators continue to deny their activity.

“The officers are doing the job they were hired to do by and for the citizens. Each time they make a stop or answer a call, they are putting their life on the line. If only the violators would realize that the officers are there for their protection as well as others, and would admit they have made a mistake rather than try to lie, it would be so much better for all.”

“Case in point: one night about 11, we attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding in a 35 mph speed zone. The driver continued to ignore the flashing lights for several blocks. Finally, he pulled over. The driver was under 21, as were the other three occupants in the vehicle,” Walt said.”When the officer approached the vehicle and requested the driver’s license and insurance, the driver indicated he didn’t have them with him. The officer then requested the driver’s name and it came back that the driver had a learner’s permit only.

“When confronted with that information, the driver changed his story and produced a learner’s permit. Since there was no adult with a driver’s license in the vehicle, the driver’s parents were contacted and requested to come to the scene.”

“Once they arrived, they indicated the driver did not have authority to be driving. Had the driver admitted to making a mistake for speeding, he most likely would have gotten a warning and possibly a citation for not having a licensed adult driver in the front seat,” Walt said.”Instead, the driver was cited for speeding, not having a valid driver’s license, no proof of insurance … lying to a police officer and a couple other charges. The driver, because of the violations, will not be able to get a regular driver’s license until he turns 21. All because he lied to start with.

“The public needs to realize that they need to face the fact they have done something wrong and face the music. I would recommend that the news media try to get firsthand experience in the everyday operations of the police and fire departments so as to report what these public servants must go through to protect us citizens, not only the training but the actual duties they perform.

“I feel very fortunate that I live in a community that is reaching out to its citizens through providing a citizens academy for citizens to become more familiar with the activities of the police department.”

By the way …

Granted, he has a little different perspective, due to his associations with officers. But, still, he offers food for thought.

Enjoy your week and drive safely.

The activities began Monday at the Montgomery Police De­partment’s outdoor range on Old Hayneville Road and will continue throughout the week.

Participants in the academy are soon-to-be sixth-graders from the Weed and Seed area of west Montgomery.

During the weeklong camp, law enforcement officers from different departments will hold demonstrations, give speeches and offer their expertise to the children.

Activities will include traffic demonstrations, SWAT team demonstrations, tours of police headquarters, K9 training and much more for the 25 students from area schools.

Police Cpl. Denise Barnes said that many of the students involved in the camp already are somewhat familiar with the officers.

“Most of us are assigned to the Weed and Seed area, which is a high-crime area, but is still fairly small,” she said.

Twenty-five students can be a handful, but according to Barnes, the camp is always a fun time.

“This is my favorite time of year, when we get to do Junior Police Academy. I love it, and I think it gives a lot of these kids some positive reinforcement,” she said. “A lot of these kids are from the same schools also, so most of them already know each other.”

On Monday, the children noisily lined up in front of offi­cers holding protective gear, and one by one attempted to hold the weighty gear through fits of giggles.

Eleven-year-old Kiera Jar­rett said fingerprinting was among her favorite activities Monday.

“This definitely beats cheerleading camp!” Kiera said with a wide grin. “My mom told me to try something new this summer, and I’m really glad she did.”

Kiera noticed her fellow campers crowding around Cpl. D.M. Brown as he gave a police motorcycle demonstration, so she ran over to pose in the group picture that was being taken.

After the motorcycle demon­stration, the kids walked single file out on the lawn of the out­door range, where they awaited a SWAT raid demonstration, complete with flash bangs, si­rens and a cloth-dummy crimi­nal.

The kids cheered and holler­ed for different SWAT team members during the demonstra­tion, which ended with a group picture of the kids with the offi­cers in full SWAT garb.

“We always do some really fun things for the kids,” Barnes said.

At the end of the week, the kids will attend a graduation ceremony and be given T-shirts and plaques, she said.

Also this week, they’ll take a trip to the Montgomery Zoo, go to the theater to see “Shrek For­ever After,” and get a tour of the county courthouse, where they’ll participate in a mock trial, Barnes said.1

The Sierra Vista Citizen’s Police Academy will give about two dozen community members the opportunity to learn about police investigative techniques, firearms scenarios, the use of force and much more during its annual class, said Molly Schmitt, recruiter and volunteer coordinator for the Sierra Vista Police Department.

Started in 1998, the academy is designed to “develop citizens’ awareness and understanding of law enforcement” and to “broaden their horizons about what we do and how and why we do it,” Schmidt said.

Since then, more than 300 people have gone through the program, at least three of whom have gone on to become officers with the department. More still went on to become volunteers with the department, she said.

Along with the more hands-on lessons in fingerprinting, crime scene investigation and street gang identification, the program will offer a number of academic lessons on the history of the department and the town, constitutional law and more.

In its initial years, the program was held twice a year, but budget and time constraints have reduced it to an annual program, Schmitt said.

The limited availability of spots ensures a full class each year.

“I had 15 applicants overflow into this year’s academy from the previous year,” she said.

The event is free and open to anyone over the age of 18 who lives or works within the Sierra Vista area, has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving violence or weapons and has had no misdemeanor arrests within the past six months.

The Citizen’s Police Academy begins Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and continues each following Wednesday.

Applications will be accepted until the course is full and can be found at www.sierravistaaz.gov/pd. For more information, contact Schmitt at 452-7500.

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Newport News police held police academy DUI training. Volunteers attended what appeared to be a typical office party – with finger foods, music, and lots of alcohol.

The 20 Newport News police recruits waited in the room next door, about to begin their police academy DUI training.

Six people volunteered to be picked up from home and taken to the academy to drink. Within two hours, each volunteer was given up to eight shots of 80 proof liquor – enough to put them well over the legal limit.

In the classroom the recruits are trained on what to look for during field sobriety tests, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and impaired movement.

Sgt. James Paddleford says this offers real life training on what to look for out on the road.

“There’s no difference between a person with a gun that is threatening somebody and somebody that gets behind the wheel and drives, so our department dedicates three to four days of training in the academy for the recruits to practice their DUIs,” Paddleford said.

About halfway through the night, blood alcohol levels were checked and recorded – then more liquor was poured.

Finally the recruits came in to put their knowledge to the test.

Recruit Danny Diaz passed his test.

Danny says he now knows what to do when he pulls a drunk driver over for the first time.

“I was expecting to just see it in motion, the eyes, but one thing I wasn’t expecting was to see the wobbling. I mean some people practice these things but you just can’t beat them,” said Danny Diaz.

All the volunteers were given a ride back home.