PPD invites public to 2018 Citizen’s Police Academy

The Porterville Police Department invites Porterville residents to take part in their 2018 Citizen’s Police Academy.

The Citizen’s Police Academy provides an opportunity to learn and see first-hand the functions and many facets PPD has to offer.

“This will be our third year and it is very successful,” reported PPD Lieutenant Brian Nix. “We get a lot of positive feedback on this program.”

During the eight week course, students will be exposed to many aspects of police work, including traffic enforcement, dispatch, gangs, criminal investigations, criminal prosecution, narcotics and the use of firearms.

Participants will gain a good working knowledge of PPD, specifically how the department is organized and how it operates. Each participant will also be required to take part in a ride along with a patrol officer as well.

This course is not intended to train people to become police officers. The main objective of the Citizen’s Police Academy is to increase understanding between the residents of our community and

the police officers who serve them, with an overall goal of building strong and lasting relationships.

Graduates will be given the opportunity to take part in PPD’S Volunteer Program and play an active role in various operations of the organization.

To be eligible to attend Citizen’s Police Academy, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, live, work, worship or attend school in the City of Porterville, and have no felony convictions or significant criminal history.

Those interested must complete an application, which is available at the Police Department. The closing date for applications is August 24 at 5 pm. A selection committee

will review the applications to determine the eligibility of each candidate and will select students accordingly. The academy is limited to a maximum of 30 participants.

“We get a lot of interest in this program,” said Nix. “We accept thirty but we get close to forty or fifty that apply.”

The academy is scheduled to begin September 5 and concludes with a graduation ceremony on October 24. Classes are scheduled for each Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and attendance at each class is required to graduate.

Please contact Community Service Officer Steve Walker at (559) 782-7567 with any questions.