City looking for a few good men, women for public safety academy
STAMFORD — Anyone with a genuine interest in how the city copes with situations as diverse as a bomb scare, traffic stops or a fully involved fire should sign up to participate in Stamford’s fourth Citizens Public Safety Academy.
The eightweek, onenightperweek free course is open to anyone 18 years or older who is a citizen of Stamford with a keen interest in how the city that works, works.
The Office of Public Safety, headed up by former New York City Fire Department Captain Ted Jankowski, started the course as a response to the rising distrust of public safety officials across the nation. Residents participating in the academy are promised to get a handson, behindthescenes experience taught by the city’s top public safety officials.
The program involves opening to public view services offered by the city’s police, fire, health, emergency medical, emergency communications and social services departments. There, the participants will get an understanding about each agency’s responsibilities, how they overlap and how they respond to the needs of city residents.
Residents who complete the academy qualify to become members of dedicated volunteer citizen’s organizations including Stamford’s Community Emergency Response Team and the Medical Reserve Corps. Both organizations work diligently to improve the health and safety of Stamford’s community.
Graduates of the Citizen’s Academy say they leave the program with better understanding of public safety’s operations, an impression of the departments’ challenges, and a lasting appreciation of the people who work every day to keep Stamford safe, a release about the program by Jankowski said.
While the exact dates for the academy have not been worked out yet, the twomonth program will begin in late October with classes on weekdays between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. and two additional Saturday classes.
Enrollment will be limited to between 24 to 30 residents, who must pass a background check.
Applications can be found on the city’s website. Completed applications can be sent to the Office of Public Safety at TJankowski@stamfordct.gov or by mail/inperson to: Office of Public Safety, Health, and Welfare, 888 Washington Blvd., 10th Floor, Stamford, CT, 06901.