Police academy now taking applicants
The Madison Police Department is now accepting applications for it’s annual Citizen’s Police Academy that will take place on March 7.
Academy instructor Lt. Wayne Kamus said that the event is one way that Madison residents and police officers can strengthen their social bond.
“Basically what the program is all about is that it’s an opportunity to connect with the community,” he said. “It is also an opportunity for the community to come and watch how we work and get an idea of what policing is all about.”
Kamus said that the month long academy is also a way break down what is often times a barrier between law enforcement and the citizens they protect.
“So many citizens only see us inside of a vehicle,” he said. “So this gives us an opportunity for them to actually participate with us and next to us. That is part of that community policing concept that we developed many years back.”
Many community and police events are sometime confined to the classroom. Kamus said that despite a small amount of classroom activity, most of the academy events allow participants to experience police work firsthand.
“It’s going to be a hands on approach,” he said. “It is not going to be one of those things where you just sit and listen to us talk. They are actually going to be participating with our officers and detectives.”
Responsible firearm usage has been part of the national discussion recently. Kamus said that although the event will not focus on gun usage, it will be addressed at some point during the academy.
“The participants will be involved with a little of that in the learning environment that they will be in,” he said. “Through that they will have the opportunity to learn how to handle themselves and a weapon.”
Event coordinator Rebecca Johnson said that turnout has been great the past four times it has been offered.
“There has been a good response,” she said. “We currently have a waiting list. Even if we don’t have our number of participants then we do outside of Madison and into Harvest and Huntsville.
To become a participant in the academy, one must be 19 years old or older, have no prior felony convictions and must submit a completed application three weeks before the start of the academy.
