From the City of Mason City:
The 2012 classes are scheduled for Thursday evenings beginning on September 27 and will last 10 weeks. The class each week will run from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The Citizen’s Police Academy is open to those age 21 or older who live or work in Cerro Gordo County. There is no cost to participate.
The purpose of the Academy is to provide an educational opportunity so citizens can learn first-hand about police and sheriff operations and services. The Academy helps to enhance police and community relationships by providing citizens insight into the internal workings of their law enforcement agencies. The weekly sessions are not designed to train participants as law enforcement officers, but rather to help them understand how law enforcement functions within the criminal justice system through classroom and hands-on sessions. Participants should come away from the Academy with a better understanding of why we do what we do for their community. Some of the topics to be explored are criminal law, patrol tactics, crime scene investigation, jail functions, crime prevention, use of force and firearms training. All participants will also be provided the opportunity to ride along with a patrol officer and sheriff’s deputy.
Participants for the Citizen’s Police Academy will be selected through an application process overseen by the Chief of Police and the Sheriff. That process includes a background check. Applications may be picked up at the Mason City Police Department or the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, or by going online to either agency’s website. Citizen’s with further questions should contact Mason City Police Investigator Jeremy Ryal at 641-421-2716. Applications must be received no later than Friday, September 7, 2012 to be considered for the 2012 Academy. The class size will be limited to no more than 18 participants.
