AUBURN — The Auburn Police Department will hold the next session of the Citizens’ Police Academy beginning Monday, Oct. 3. The exciting 10-week program offers community members insight into how local police officers perform their duties and how the police department serves the community.

The goal of the CPA is to foster better communication between citizens and police through education. Graduates of the academy learn about the structure and activities of their police department, share their knowledge and experiences with their friends and neighbors and quite often go on to become volunteers with the department.

The CPA is a series of informational classes, a behind-the-scenes look at the Auburn Police Department. The program operates on the premise that informed and educated citizens will be more supportive of police officers and will be more productive within their own neighborhood and community.

The APD has offered the CPA for several years, and the agency always finds it to be a rewarding experience for the participants as well as the officers. “We all benefit from enhancing citizen understanding of the role and function of the police department,” said Chief Phil Crowell. “Participants will not be trained as police officers, but will get a fun and informative overview of the department’s functions and operation.”

Participants will meet at the Auburn Police Department each Monday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. All of the course instructors are members of the law enforcement profession and will present material on topics such as basic patrol function, use of force (lethal, less than lethal, OUI detection and enforcement, domestic violence, K-9 demonstration, drug enforcement, crime scene investigation and more.

Class size is limited and will be filled on a first-come basis. A background check will be performed on all applicants. Applicants with felony convictions or extensive criminal backgrounds will not be accepted.

Anyone interested in receiving an application for the Citizens’ Police Academy should visit the Auburn Police Department at 60 Court St., visit www.auburnpd.com to download the application or contact Liz Allen, Volunteers in Police Service coordinator at 333-6650 or [email protected]. Application deadline is Sept. 26.