Free police academy program offered to public

State police are offering classes to the public to teach them about their job

SOUTH COATESVILLE » State police are offering the public an opportunity to learn about what law enforcement officers do and to give them more of an understanding about it.

The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop J-Chester County, will be hosting a Citizens Police Academy (CPA) from Nov. 6 to Dec. 18. The program will expand citizen’s knowledge and understanding of the law and explore police procedures from the perspective of the Pennsylvania State Police. The academy involves approximately 14 hours of instruction taught in two hour segments.

Troopers Waleska Gonzalez and Reginald Easterling described the purpose of the academy to give the community a “better understanding of what we do, how we do it, and why we do it.” Students can expect to see instruction on topics such as Patrol and Crime Functions, Crash investigations, the use and operation of the Judicial system, as well as other classes.

The course is free and the Citizens Police Academy is about teaching the community. It is not about meeting any type of physical standards and it does not replicate the State Police Academy required physical standards. It is all about teaching and interacting, the program is run in a classroom setting.

The State Police hosted its first Citizens Police Academy (CPA) in 1999. Captain Maurice A. Tomlinson, Commanding Officer of Troop J wanted to offer the CPA this year.

“I welcome you, the community to take advantage of this opportunity to gain hands on insight on the policing done by the men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police in your community,” Tomlinson said. “This is a program designed for everyone.”

The program will expand citizens’ knowledge and understanding of the law and explore police procedures from the perspective of the Pennsylvania State Police. The CPA involves approximately 14 hours of instruction taught in two hour segments.

Participants meet weekly on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. and they must attend 75 percent or more of the scheduled classes to be eligible to graduate and receive a certificate. The Academy will be held at the Chester County Public Safety Training Center at 137 Modena Road in South Coatesville.

The class size is limited to allow greater interaction between students and instructors. Applicants must be 18 years of age to apply and be a resident of Pennsylvania. The deadline for appli-

cation submission is Friday, Oct. 27.

Applications can be picked up at Pennsylvania State Police Embreeville or Avondale stations. Applicants can also email wagonzalez@pa.gov or reasterlin@pa.gov to request an

electronic email application. Questions can be directed to Trooper Waleska Gonzalez at 6104866181 or Trooper Reginald Easterling at 6102682022.