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The Lynnwood Police Department is now offering the 19th
annual session of its CITIZENS ACADEMY. This 16 week program helps familiarize the public with common police procedures, activities and
investigative techniques. Classes will be held every Thursday evening from 7 to 10 pm from January
8 to April 23, 2008, in the courtroom at the Civic Justice Center. There is no charge for this class, although space is limited. More than thirty officers participate as instructors, resulting in positive feedback for the Department, the City, and law enforcement in general.
Sessions are interactive and participants take part in a variety of demonstrations, presentations and field trips. Class members are also offered a ride-along with a patrol officer to see police work first-hand and close-up.
Classes will include:
- The course begins with a welcome from the Mayor and Police Chief Jensen. They discuss the mission and future of the police department, city history and proposed plans, and current problems and trends.
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A recent class got to experience a mock-up of a crime scene and learned how it was processed by Crime Scene
Technicians |
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The next evening is spent learning what
patrol officers experience during a typical shift, what equipment they wear and carry, and their personal concerns and fears. A class member is chosen to model a police uniform and experience the feel of the bullet resistant vest and weight of gear officers must carry.
- The third session focused on the work of the traffic unit and how they investigate and document accident scenes. Officers discuss DUI offenses and ask students to demonstrate standard sobriety tests and the breathalyzer. A motor officer shows his standard model Harley Davidson motorcycle and demonstrates RADAR equipment.
- The next session includes a tour of our 911 facility where members see how 911 operators handle and dispatch emergency calls. Back at class, officers discuss their response and investigation of domestic violence (DV) calls. The class then elects representatives to investigate a simulated DV call acted out by officers. These representatives must determine what actually happened and which party should be arrested.
- Detectives and a scientist from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab teach the next several classes. They discuss fingerprints and techniques for obtaining evidence at a crime scene. Several class members are fingerprinted, then one leaves his or her prints at a simulated crime scene. Detectives then show how they can identify the "suspect" by an evaluation of the prints. Students also participate in demonstrations involving DNA, use of the alternate light source, and identification of blood spatter patterns.
- At the next session, a video of an actual homicide is shown and the class learns how evidence was gathered and a successful investigation and arrests were conducted. The medical examiner follows this presentation with slides showing how evidence is gathered from a body after death.
- Class members spend part of the next evening "cooling their heels" in the detention center (jail) and experiencing a jail-house dinner. They are involved in the booking process and learn what life is like "on the inside."
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An officer speaks to members of a Citizen's Academy class about SWAT |
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- Students attend a demonstration at our gun range where the police range master shoots weapons officers carry on duty as well as the specialized weapons that are available as needed, such as beanbag and less-than-lethal rounds.
- D.A.R.E. and high school resource officers tell the group about their experiences with students from elementary to high school. They talk about how parents can effectively interact with their children and guide youngsters toward good choices.
- Narcotics officers show samples of common street drugs and drug paraphernalia. They talk about current illegal drug trends and show video and photos of drug arrests, methamphetamine labs, marijuana grows, etc. They also discuss teen behavior that could be indicative of drug abuse.
- Gangs and graffiti are the subject of a dramatic evening that includes stories from a former gang member. Officers discuss the meaning of graffiti and tagging and give parents advice to help keep their kids out of gangs.
- The K-9 unit demonstrates a high risk building search while class members observe the dog's tracking technique. Common canine situations will also be demonstrated which include the dog bringing down a fleeing suspect and protecting his handler.
- During one evening, the class meets with the Lynnwood Municipal Court Judge and learns about courtroom procedures and the handling of records.
- Before the graduation ceremony, the SWAT team demonstrates their specialized equipment and techniques. They also discuss a variety of special cases that they have handled.
Officers demonstrate to a Citizens' Academy class how an officer might take a non-compliant offender down to the ground |
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Contact Trudy Dana at the Lynnwood Police Department crime prevention office for information about the next Citizens' Academy at: 425
670-5637.
If you are interested in attending the next Citizens' Academy, please print the Citizens' Academy application, supply all information requested, and return it to the Lynnwood Police Department.
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