CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Police Department will begin a new program for their Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy on Tuesday evening at the Charleston Police Department Training Center.
Sgt. Paul Perdue said the program runs for 10 weeks from 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday. Perdue said it outlines the entire police department, has every division involved, and gives the citizens a chance to interact with the police. It also gives them more perspective into what the department does every day.
“On the first night I’ll give them an outline of how the police department works, the basics of the rank structure as well as the rules that govern as far as our policy and procedures go,” said Perdue, “They’ll also learn how things are done to make sure that we’re doing our job correctly.”
Perdue said all the divisions will be involved in the program to discuss their roles. He said it gives the citizens a better chance to understand which department takes care of which problem.
“One thing that we added back in to it this year is a tour of our municipal court and the opportunity to speak to our municipal court judge, so that they can understand the court process a little more,” said Perdue.
Perdue said they have more interest this year with 42 participants compared to last year’s 17 people. He said they had to turn people away because they filled the class up so quickly.
Perdue said they may end up running another program in the fall 2015 depending on how much interest they receive. He said they are accepting applications for 2016 online at www.charlestonwvpolice.org or by contacting him at (304)-348-6470 extension 4917.