CHILDERSBURG, Ala. – The Childersburg Police Department recently celebrated the graduation of participants in its inaugural Citizens Police Academy and is already looking ahead to future sessions. One possible addition could be a youth-focused academy designed for teenagers.
“It was more than a fun experience,” Childersburg Police Chief Kevin Koss said. “It was enlightening for all of us. That was the main goal – for the public to gain insight into department operations while building trust and improving communication with those we serve through seven weeks of side-by-side interaction with our officers.”
The academy met once a week over a seven-week period and provided participants with more hands-on experiences than many expected.
“It quickly became more about showing than telling what we do,” Koss said. “Each week, we covered topics that citizens may not fully understand about police work and our operations.”
The sessions included instruction on statutory law, patrol operations, and calls for service. Participants also learned about many of the situations officers encounter daily, including traffic stops and domestic violence calls.
“The goal was for officers to share their experiences in ways that help citizens better understand what it means to be a police officer,” Koss said. “Topics included felony intake, criminal investigations, evidence collection, interviews and interrogations, fingerprinting, and even firearms training.”
The academy also featured participation from local firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
“We included our firefighters and EMTs for training on CPR, fire service operations, and demonstrations of the Jaws of Life,” Koss said. “Participants also had hands-on opportunities to learn about the equipment and procedures used by the fire department.”
Following the success of the inaugural session, Koss said department leaders are exploring ways to expand the program.
“We’ve seen that we can do even more,” he said. “One of the ideas we’ve discussed is creating a youth Citizens Academy for ages 13 to 17. If that’s you or someone you know who might be interested, stop by, learn more, and apply.”
Koss said the department is also open to family participation if there is enough interest.
“Why not?” he said. “If the interest is there, we’ll consider it. The Citizens Academy is a tool that can make lives better through mutual understanding and respect. We need – and we want – interested people from the community.”
