The Michigan City Police Department is looking for members of the community who would like to experience the inner workings of what it is like to be a police officer. Beginning October 16, we will be sponsoring an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Department. The Michigan City Police Citizens Police Academy (MCPA) brings the police and the community close together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant.
Participants receive two and a half hours of training one evening each week for six weeks in many of the varied functions of law enforcement. They experience some of the highlights of police training and are exposed to the daily operations of the police department.
One of the favorite sessions of past students was the Crime Scene Investigation (yes that's CSI!) where they could not get enough time in our regular session. I have included a bonus day of the morning of Saturday November 8th to do the “Investigating and Crime Scene”! There will be three separate “Investigative Teams” all in a friendly competition. Each team will be assigned a homicide detective as an advisor and be able to utilize our police equipment along with video, photography, evidence handling and dealing with a real murder victim and scenes.
Participants are taught the basics of criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, firearm safety, taser, traffic laws, hostage negotiations, and many other subjects. They will learn about the processing of a crime scene, how police canines are used, and are exposed to many of the specialty police units. MCPA participants meet and talk with many of the officers as well as the command staff and training staff that serves them. All this takes place in a safe and entertaining training environment at the Police Department and the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall.
Instructors are State Certified law enforcement professionals who teach both veteran and recruit police officers. Students leave this training with a greater understanding of the police mission and with an increased ability to see how the police serve our community.
What is the difference between our academy and others? We have fun! Our academy is a “hands on” interactive approach in which each student gets to participate in numerous activities that prove to be educational yet fun and exciting!
This program is not an accredited certification course to become a sworn police officer.
The first session of the MCPA will begin on Thursday, October 16, 2014, at the Michigan City Emergency Operations Center located at City Hall. The program will be held each Thursday evening, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for 6 weeks.
Class size is limited to 35 participants. All interested persons must be at least 21 years old, complete an application, and give permission for the Michigan City Police to conduct a background check to determine if they have a criminal record.