Citizens Police Academy

The Police Department has added a fresh offering to the "back to school" season by hosting its first annual "Citizens Police Academy," a ten-week course aimed at introducing interested residents to the work of police officers and the fundamentals of law enforcement.

The academy is among the high priorities of Chief Mike Moyer, who said that while providing citizens with a close look at many facets of police work, the academy is intended to foster greater rapport between the department and the community by deepening understanding and dispelling misconceptions about law enforcement through direct interaction between citizens and officers. He added that he hoped the experience of the academy would encourage some of its graduates to join the department as volunteers assisting with administrative tasks and community services.

"It's a way for citizens to see how their taxes are being spent," Moyer said. "It's their police department. It's really theirs."

The academy has been designed by Lieutenants Chris Adams and Matt Canfield with help from Malcolm Murray, one of the department's community service volunteers and a graduate of two citizen police academies. Classes will meet weekly on Tuesday evenings — Sept. 16 through Nov. 18 — at 6 p.m. and last two to three hours. In addition, there will be visits to the district court, county jail and 911 center as well as a ride-along with an officer on patrol.

Classes will address all major aspects of policing — recruiting and training officers, prosecuting criminal and traffic offenses, handling firearms and conducting criminal investigations — with officers serving as instructors. One class will be devoted to domestic violence and another to "problem oriented policing," a strategy designed to mitigate the sources of disorder and crime while making efficient use of personnel and resources. The special units of the department, including the K-9 unit, motorcycle patrol, special ops team, accident reconstruction team and bicycle patrol, will explain their role and demonstrate their skills. The academy closes with a a graduation ceremony hosted by the command staff of the department.

Enrollment in the academy is open to all those 18 or older who live, work or attend school in Laconia, without convictions for felonies, domestic violence or violent misdemeanors or on probation or parole. There are no physical or medical qualifications required to enroll. The class is limited to 15 people, who will be chosen on a first come, first served basis. Because of the sensitive nature of some of the information, all applicants must undergo a background check.

"The most important element of the academy is the participants," Adams said. "We are hoping for a diversified group, a good cross-section of the community." He noted that applications can be downloaded and printed from the department's website — laconiapd.org — or collected at the police station at 126 New Salem Street. Those seeking more information should call Lieutenant Chris Adams at 524-5257, extension 332 or Lieutenant Matt Canfield at 524-5257, extension 356.