Recently, a group of 16 community members successfully completed a several weeks-long outreach program with the Norwich Police Department called the Citizens Police Academy. The program invited community member into the daily job of a local police officer and shared curriculum and first person experiences. (Photo by Sophia Root)

by Sophia Root,

Commerce Chenango

NORWICH - Recently, a group of 16 community members were congratulated by City of Norwich officials for successfully completing a several weeks-long outreach program with the Norwich Police Department.

The Citizens Police Academy was an informative experience that I was grateful to have been a part of.

Applying for the Citizens Police Academy was a step into the unknown: placing myself behind the badge. After all, this is the first class that has been offered in ten years, and this particular program was in its developmental stages.

What awaited was a far more eye-opening, challenging and transformative curriculum than initially expected.

The police hosting the classes offer feedback at the the recent meeting.

Officer Sam Stratton said, “Working with the community I serve was an absolute delight. I’ve learned so much from this experience, and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Chief Reuben J. Roach also work closely on the program and said he was very happy with the outcome.

Sgt. Mark Martin said, "Being able to be an instructor in the Norwich Police Departments Citizens Police Academy was a great experience. The opportunity to be able to give insight to the community about the law enforcement profession was important and hopefully impactful. I look forward to the next one."

The program began on a crisp October evening, gathering with sixteen diverse community members in the police department's Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Officer Sam Stratton opened the class with transparency that would define the entire experience. On the very first night of the course, we got to see exclusive body camera footage and tour the holding cell.

Each week that followed brought a different dimension of police work to life. Classes started with an introductory lecture in the EOC and ended with a scenario based roleplay in the department garage. During the narcotics and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) lesson, we learned how to conduct a traffic stop. This revealed protocol and process that officers must follow for efficiency, and their safety.

When covering discussing DWI arrests in the class officer put on a presentation with Sergeant Martin as an intoxicated citizen while Officer Steve Rounds, acted as a Drug Recognition Expert and administered sobriety tests. Watching the officers reenact a traffic stop with an inebriated individual demonstrated the methods of evidence collection when determining what qualifies as a DWI.

The third week offered a particularly interesting and relevant lesson on vagrancy and public violations. Officers explained their preferred techniques and protocol when it comes to dispersing unhoused people from public spaces, especially when it comes to being in violation of city codes or curfew. We learned that oftentimes, the officer can only issue a court appearance ticket.

Mental Hygiene Law (9.41) night proved to be especially challenging. Understanding when to administer services or provide resources to a mentally ill citizen was black and white. However, when in the scenario based simulation, it was difficult to gain compliance and provide said resources. In this case, getting the affected person to Binghamton General Hospital.

Perhaps most impactful was hearing officer's experiences. Although these were not compiled into one lesson, we heard first hand accounts throughout the course. Listening to officers share candid stories about building trust, de-escalation techniques, and the emotional complexity of their work helped students understand the give and take of policing and communication.

The use of force demonstration became a personal highlight. Four fellow classmates volunteered to experience the deployment of Taser. Observing the mechanics of the taser and resulting effect on the human body was educational, and was more in depth than watching a video of this method. While no one volunteered to be pepper sprayed, the class did experience the discharge of pepper spray. Sprayed on one side of the garage, the entire class, including instructors, were affected by it, coughing and sneezing for the remainder of the evening.

The shoot-don’t-shoot simulation proved particularly profound. Placed in high-intensity scenarios using interactive demonstrations, every split-second decision could mean life or death. Each student learned how to use a Simunition gun, which is an exact replica of the weapons that the officers carry. Discovering the difficulty of pulling a gun from a holster, aiming and discharging a weapon in a short, tense, moment changed my understanding of law enforcement's challenging daily responsibilities.

The course culminated in a graduation ceremony, on December 3 at the City Common Council meeting. Each participant received a certificate, symbolizing a transformative journey. More than just understanding police procedures, the experience provided a nuanced, compassionate perspective on law enforcement's critical role in the community.

Chief Reuben J. Roach stated, “This class of sixteen students represents a cross section of our community who gave up their free time to gain a better understanding of best practices in policing. Now, they can courageously serve as a direct liaison between the department and the community.”

This Citizens Police Academy proved to be more than just an educational experience, it is a bridge of understanding, connecting citizens and law enforcement through mutual respect, knowledge, and shared community values.

The next class will be offered early next year. If you are interested in participating, please contact info@norwichpd.org to be placed on a potential participant list.

Many thanks to: Chief Roach, Sergeants Martin, Rifanburg, and Rounds; Detectives Burnett and Wengert; Officers Stratton, Prime, Vinal, and Dexheimer; the City of Norwich; and my fellow classmates.