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The Academy is conducted by the Public Relations Unit of the Hot Springs Police Department, is a free eight evening course designed to familiarize citizens with various aspects of community law enforcement. The Academy focuses on administrative philosophy, internal policies and guiding principles of law and ethical conduct governing the delivery of police services in our community.
A shortened version of the basic training presented to new police officers, the Academy curriculum retains all of the core elements essential for citizens to gain a better understanding of police operations. As a result of participation, citizens are able to make more informed judgments about the department and its daily operations, the Department gains a better understanding of the views and concerns of the community, and an enhanced relationship between the citizens and their police department is achieved.
The 4-week curriculum includes 24 hours of valuable classroom instruction, knowledgeable speakers and interesting demonstrations. Participants are also eligible to participate in electives during the course. The electives include a ride-along or “day at the office” with officers, which offer a rare “behind-the-scenes” observation of police work under actual working conditions with an officer. Qualifying participants receive a certificate upon completion of the course and exceptional graduates receive special public recognition.
The Hot Springs Citizens Police Academy is conducted two to three times a year based on need. Class size is limited to 20 students per class and registration is on a first come, first served basis. For further information or an application, you may contact the Public Relations Unit at 501.321.6740, or email Corporal McCrary Means.
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Pictured are, standing Lt. Mike Gregor, left, Sgt. Jason Stachey, academy coordinator, Ted Smethers, Robert Early, Bob Freeman, Michael Blyth, Garland County Circuit Court Judge David Switzer, James Katowitch, Police Chief Bobby Southard, Calvin Howell, Kenneth Barker, Dick Antoine, Dean Manwarren, William Peterson, Steve Smith, Jeremy King, and Cpl. McCrary Means. Seated, are Carolyn Hannah, Ieft, Betty Lou Grinning, Diane White, Karen Schaber and Jerry Jones. |
The Hot Springs Police Department concluded its first annual Citizens Police Academy on April 3, 2008. As one of Chief Southard’s top priorities when he was hired, the 8-week course familiarizes citizens with various aspects of community law enforcement, with a strong focus on internal policies, local procedures, and techniques used in the delivery of law enforcement services. The Citizens Police Academy is a shortened version of the basic training presented to new police officers. The curriculum retains all of the core elements essential for citizens to gain a better understanding of police operations. It provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the strategies and methods used by police officers to serve and protect our community. Students were provided detailed demonstrations of police equipment; participated in narcotics identification; saw first-hand how traffic stops are made; learned about police communications, defensive tactics, crime prevention techniques and how to become a better witness; and more. Sgt. Jason Stachey, coordinator of the department’s cutting-edge program, enlisted the aid of a number of instructors to teach a variety of courses in their respective fields of expertise. “The City of Hot Springs is extremely fortunate to have instructors like Corporal McCrary Means and Mike Simmons at their disposal,” said Stachey. “The creativity and technical skills they devoted to this project was nothing short of phenomenal.” Stachey added that the instructors wrote and produced the entire course curriculum without financial assistance. “It might have been even better if had a sponsor or budget to work with, but the technical team’s dedication to this project overcame these obstacles.” Stachey said that all 19 of the adult students were presented certificates of completion by Chief of Police Bobby Southard and guest speaker Judge David Switzer at a ceremony held at the police station on graduation night. “The Citizens Police Academy is not your run-of-the-mill classroom experience. The graduates exemplify community-minded citizens who are determined to make a difference.” Stachey added that the department tentatively plans to hold another class in the near future. “This is clearly a win-win proposition. The students are teaching us with their feedback while we are filling them with information, so we expect every class to be even better and more informative than the one before. It’s obvious that the Citizens Police Academy is a key piece of the puzzle that will help us all to understand and appreciate each other far beyond any eight-week course. Now that we’ve made that discovery, it’s important not to lose momentum.” For more information or to schedule a speaker to talk about the Citizens Police Academy, call 321-6740.
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