The City of Norwich Police Department will host a Citizens Police Academy in October. Those interested in participating in the course should email info@norwichpd.org. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH – The City of Norwich Police Department will host a Citizens Police Academy in October.

The academy is a six-week course. It will run for two hours one night a week. The course will allow participants from the community to immerse themselves in criminal investigations, interactive scenarios, use of force and other police-related topics.

Norwich Police Chief Reuben Roach shared that the Norwich Police Department has not held a Citizens Police Academy in 14 years due to staffing shortages.

“We’ve been understaffed for many years. We’re at a point now where we can sustain having a Citizens Police Academy,” Roach said. “And I think it’s perfect timing to coincide with police transparency and for individuals in the community to get a better understanding of how law enforcement operations are conducted in New York State.”

Roach also said the Citizens Police Academy may be an opportunity for those interested in a career in law enforcement to become more familiar with the duties and responsibilities of an officer.

“We certainly want more individuals who are interested in becoming law enforcement officers, but we also want to build that bridge between the community and the police department to create a better understanding of law enforcement’s function,” he said.

Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible for the Citizens Police Academy. Class size will be limited to 15 community members, though Roach said he hopes to expand the academy to a larger group of individuals in the future, as the department plans to hold an academy “at least every year or so.”

Those interested in participating in the course should email info@norwichpd.org where they can receive instructions on how to apply for the program.