The Petal Police Department is gearing up for its inaugural Citizens Police Academy, a six-week course designed to strengthen the relationship between the department and the residents of the Friendly City as well as improve the quality of service to the community.
The free academy will begin on March 3, and will consist of classes held from 6-8 p.m. each Tuesday night and one Saturday for four hours.
Classes – which will consist of topics such as criminal investigations, the municipal court system and driver training – are aimed at providing citizens with insight on the procedures used by officers and the challenges faced by the department.
“Although I truly believe that we have a great relationship with the public, and we have a great rapport with the citizens of this city, this program comes designed in hopes of improving relationships between the police department and the citizens,” Police Chief Matthew Hiatt said at a recent meeting of the Petal Board of Aldermen. “We want to improve the quality of service that we can provide, and also offer the citizens who attend this academy some insight on our daily responsibilities and the challenges that we face each and every day.”
The first class will focus on a Petal Police Department overview presentation, followed by information on operations and the patrol division.
The next three classes are aimed at issues such as the traffic division, communications, internal affairs, use of force and media relations.
The Saturday class, which will be held on April 4, will consist of a K9 demo, SWAT team demo, driver training and firearms/scenario training. Upon successful completion, each graduate will receive a certificate documenting their success. A graduation ceremony will be held April 7, and alumni of the Petal Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy will be extended the opportunity to apply for future Petal Police Department citizens programs.
“This is something that we as a command center at the police department have been trying to put together for several months,” Hiatt said. “Captain Craig Locke really is the coordinator, and the guy that had his hands in on this, so I commend him on that.”
Because of limited space, a maximum of 12 students will be accepted per academy class. If there are more approved applicants than available space, those applicants will be the first eligible for the following academy class.
Requirements for making an application to the academy are set to maintain the quality and integrity of the program. Applicants must be a minimum age of 21; be a resident or owner of a local business in Petal; not have any convictions for assault; weapons or narcotics; and not have any felony convictions within the past 15 years.
Anyone meeting those minimum criteria is welcome and encouraged to apply for the program. Upon receipt of an application, a thorough background check will be completed of the applicant’s driver’s license, criminal history and for outstanding warrants.
Applications can be picked up at Petal Police Department at 127 West 8th Avenue and must be completely filled out and returned to the department no later than Feb. 24.
Applications also can be found online at https://bit.ly/2va4763.
To successfully complete the course, a student must complete all required course hours.
“This is our first time to do this, but we have some very knowledgeable instructors that’s going to be teaching these course studies,” Hiatt said. “I think it will be a valuable experience to those who participate.
“If it goes well, this is something we’d like to do at least once a year, maybe twice a year.”
For more information, contact Captain Craig Locke at (601) 544-5331 or by email at clocke@cityofpetal.com.
