The Great Bend Police Department is proud to announce that they are accepting applications for the 2016 Citizen’s Academy.
This program, beginning on April 12, will consist of six 2-hour sessions, each taking place on Tuesday night.
There will also be one Saturday morning session for participants to get hands on experience with the various things they’ve learned about.
Although the Department has conducted Citizen’s Academies in the past, this year’s course will be specifically focused toward helping citizens understand the criminal justice process.
“It’s more important now than ever for law enforcement agencies to overcome the divide between themselves and the communities they serve,” Chief Cliff Couch said “The law enforcement profession in the United States hasn’t always done the best job of letting those we serve know “why” we do what we do. We hope that this academy can help us start changing that.”
Participants in the program learn about the way a criminal complaint makes its way through the criminal justice system, and will also learn extensively about current issues facing the law enforcement community, such as the use of force to make arrests.
Those interested in participating in the 2016 Citizen’s Academy may obtain an application at the Police Department, or call the Police Department at 793-4120 for more information.