Registration is now open for the returning, Citizen's Police Academy hosted by the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD). Last held in 2009, the academy was brought back this year because of interest from the City Manager.
Participants in the program will be able to learn more about the role of the ELPD in the community. It will benefit both the residents and the department by helping them to communicate better with each other. According to Lieutenant Thomas VanDerWoude , "It puts the police in touch with the residents and helps them see us as people." Through the program, the ELPD hopes to become more aware of the needs of the community.
The academy will feature both classroom and hands on instruction and include topics such as; Use of force, the legal system, neighborhood watch and more. Taught by sworn, East Lansing police officers, It will last for six weeks. After that, according to VanDerWoude, they will depend on feedback from participants to decide whether it should be extended. "We want to keep it going," he says, "But it depends on the interest." So far though, the idea has been very well received. They have already received applications and are anticipating more.
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Source: Lieutenant Thomas VanDerWoude, East Lansing Police Department
Writer: Allison Monroe, Innovation News Editor
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