Citizens Police Academy gives insight, training

Graduates from the Spring 2019 session. (Front row, from left) Lt. Bruce Barnes, Shannon Owens, Nagako Carnahan, Jackie Graves, Brian Shera, Ian Hill and Chief Kevin Jowitt. (Middle row, from left) La Vella Hyter, Christopher Perry, Debra DeHaven, Dale DeHaven and Alan Ahlbrand. (Back row, from left) Scott Stemen, Craig McCaffrey and Captain Brad Arnold. (Photo provided by Rod Dorich)

Posted By: The Reporter May 22, 2019

The Noblesville Police Department is currently accepting applications for the next Citizens Police Academy. The academy is a 12-week course, free of charge, designed to provide community members with an opportunity to become better acquainted with professional staff and to learn about police procedures.

The Academy will familiarize citizens with the operations of the police department. This includes classes on patrol procedures, criminal law, narcotics, search and seizure, tactical operations, investigations, juvenile law, firearms demonstration, emergency vehicle operations, use of force issues and police canine demonstration. Participants will also have the option to ride with a patrol officer and witness the street activity the officers encounter on a day-to-day basis.

The objective of the Citizens Police Academy is not to create quasi-cops, but to produce informed citizens. The academy is intended to open lines of communication between the community and the police department. By allowing citizens a firsthand look at the police department and how its operations are handled, citizens take away a better understanding of the police role in the community.

Additionally, citizens bring a wealth of knowledge about their community, particularly the problems in their neighborhood. In this way, police are able to learn and better understand the concerns of the citizens.

Eligible candidates must:

  1. Be at least 16 years of age
  2. Have no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions within the last (3) years
  3. Pass a limited background check
  4. Reside or be employed in Noblesville

The next academy session (Fall 2019) will begin on Sept. 11 and will conclude on Nov. 19 with a graduation ceremony. Classes will be held every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Applications are available online at cityofnoblesville.org/police or at the Noblesville Police Department. Class size is limited so be sure to apply as soon as possible. For further information please contact Lieutenant Bruce Barnes at (317) 776-6340, ext. 1243 or at bbarnes@noblesville.in.us.

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