JANUARY 2005

Welcome to 2005!   I hope one of your goals for this year is to attend a Police Citizens Academy.

The Mount Vernon Police Department has hosted an annual Citizens Academy for the last ten years.  The goal is to open our doors to the community and, through education, increase communication and understanding between citizens and police.  Together, we are better able to identify and effect realistic solutions to neighborhood and community problems.

Since we usually dedicate a COP's Corner to Citizen Academies at the beginning of each year, I'm sure you've read about it before.  Typically we talk about how a Citizens Academy benefits you.  Today, I'm going to explain how it benefits all of us.

1. Open lines of communication.  More than 300 community members are now better educated on how our Department functions.  I've mentioned before that people's perceptions of Police Departments are largely based on personal experience or what they see in the media. Perceptions are clarified and questions are answered when people understand how an organization works.

2. Blockwatch expansion.  Several neighborhoods actively participate in Mount Vernon Block Watch Programs because someone in the area attended a Citizens Academy and recognized the value of people working together to create safer neighborhoods.

3. Better programming.  The Department offers specific training to various groups (bankers, schools, elderly).  This is based, in part, on recommendations from Citizen Academy participants.  "Students" are asked to provide written evaluations of each week's training.  These are reviewed and adjustments are made to better serve the community.

4. Volunteers.  Several Academy graduates have gone on to become volunteers with the Mount Vernon Police Department and are an essential part of our organization.

5. Community understanding.  When citizens realize policing truly is a partnership and that everyone has a role, interaction increases.  Whether it's investigating crimes, involvement in community projects, or neighborhood dispute resolution, citizen participation is key.   Without your help, police agencies are less effective.

In addition to being a great way to learn about your police department, how it functions, and your role in the process, Police Academies are fun!  I encourage anyone who has an interest to give it a try.  If it's not for you, tell a friend, relative, or co-worker.

The Anacortes Police Department is currently accepting applications for their Citizens Academy that meets every Thursday night from January 27th through March 31st.  For additional information, please call Officer Janet Wilson at 293-4684.

The Mount Vernon Police Department is currently accepting applications for their Citizens Academy that meets every Thursday night from February 17th through May 29th.  For additional information, please call 336-6271 or on-line at www.ci.mount-vernon.wa.us, click on "Police," then "Citizens Academy."