THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120493
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The Virginia Beach and Chesapeake police departments are opening academies for citizens who want to learn more about law, liability and life on the streets.
The inaugural citizen academies that begin next month will not bestow crime-fighting authority to citizens. But participants will gain a better understanding of how police departments operate and how residents can help, organizers said.
``We're looking for citizens who have an interest in their community and have nine weeks of time to devote to learning what we do, how we do it and why we do it,'' said Virginia Beach police Lt. Jim Cervera.
Cervera said one aim of his department's academy is to dispel myths and misconceptions of police work often seen in the movies and on television.
Academies in both cities will show students the behind-the-scenes aspects of police work, focusing on the sometimes-complex rules and regulations officers and detectives must follow to make arrests and compile cases.
Students will learn about police procedures, rules of evidence, criminal investigations, special operations and citizens' responsibilities.
Organizers said the academies are an extension of community policing, in which officers and citizens share responsibility for public safety.
``Everything we deal with, they'll deal with,'' Chesapeake police spokeswoman Elizabeth Jones said. ``They'll go over just about everything our (regular) police academy goes over, only more briefly.''
Both academies also will allow students to ride one shift with on-duty police officers. And in the Virginia Beach academy, students will learn about firearms safety and will spend a class shooting police handguns at the target range.
To qualify, citizens must:
Be residents of the city hosting the academy.
Be at least 18, although the Virginia Beach academy has reserved one spot for a high school student.
Pass a criminal background check.
The Virginia Beach academy begins Feb. 5 at the Center for Effective Learning on Witchduck Road, near the intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard. The classes, from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. each Monday, run nine weeks.
The Chesapeake academy starts Feb. 26 and lasts 12 weeks. Classes are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Monday in the Public Safety Academy at 1080 Sentry Road. Applications for the Chesapeake academy are due Feb. 10.
There is no cost for either academy, but spaces are limited and organizers said applications should be turned in soon.
Organizers of the Virginia Beach academy said they hope to hold two sets of classes a year, with 40 to 50 students each time.
``We are hoping the (academy graduates) will become ambassadors to promote civic responsibility,'' Cervera said. ``The police can't do it alone anymore.'' MEMO: Applications, accompanying this story, can be clipped and mailed in. Or
can be picked up at the cities' police precincts. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
CHESAPEAKE CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY APPLICATION
VIRGINIA BEACH CITIZEN POLiCE ACADEMY APPLICATION REQUEST FORM
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB