This year’s Citizens Police Academy goes virtual

GREENWICH — The Greenwich Police Department has offered local residents a program that gives an inside look at its inner workings every year for more than a decade, and this year, the same program will be offered virtually.

This year’s Citizens Police Academy will be teleconferenced due to the coronavirus, with two-hour sessions run weekly by Greenwich police officers.

Participants will gain an understanding of police work from officers and learn about different aspects of law enforcement. The department runs the academy as part of its community-policing initiative.

A wide range of topics is covered by instructors, including an introduction to policing, community policing, use of force, frauds, patrol operations, crime prevention, forensics and domestic violence, among others.

Due to public-health restrictions with COVID-19, there will be no in-person visits to the shooting range or ride-alongs in a patrol car, which were offered in previous years. However, participants will be offered an opportunity to accompany police personnel on patrol, or in the police boat, at a later date. Applications are due by Oct. 29. Applicants must be Greenwich residents or town employees, 18 years of age or older. There is no fee for the program. The department requests that applicants commit to the full six-week program.

The class size is limited to 40 students.

Interested residents can pick up an application at police headquarters on Bruce Place, and applications will also be available soon at the town’s website at www.greenwichct.gov/399/Citizens-PoliceAcademy.

The classes will run on Nov.4, Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.