10 graduate from citizen police program

Saturday, June 18, 2005

BREWER - Ten people took time out of their busy schedules to find out what it's like to stand in the shoes of a police officer. They graduated Wednesday from a citizens police academy hosted by the police department.

"The purpose behind it was to foster relations between the citizens and the police department," Acting Capt. Perry Antone said Friday. "Many times, people see the uniform but don't really see us."

Two City Council members, a minister, a nurse, a person who works in the performing arts, a stay-at-home mom, a businesswoman and three others spent three hours every Wednesday night between April 13 and June 15 with Brewer police officers learning about their job.

Councilor Manley DeBeck was one of the graduates. He lauded the program at a special City Council meeting Friday.

"I didn't have any concept of what they do," he said. "After the 10-week course I went through, I have twice as much respect [for police officers], if that's possible." Councilor Michael Celli also has attended the academy.

Antone said the program allows the department to establish a bond with the participants. "Now, if we have problems within the community that need to be addressed, we can draw on these people.

"When you get people participating, you get ownership in problem solving," he said.

Participants were introduced to the department's policies and procedures and were given the opportunity to learn how criminal investigations are conducted. They also got the opportunity to see police dog demonstrations.

"We brought in drug dogs, a tracking dog and a patrol dog from Bangor Police Department," Antone said.

The department simulated high-risk traffic stops for participants, and it allowed them to "be in the driver's seat" through role-playing. It demonstrated a domestic violence investigation.

Brewer officers, who ran the classes, also conducted a session on illegal-drug identification, in which participants were shown what several types of drugs look like, including marijuana, cocaine and heroin.

"They were able to look at and handle $400 worth of heroin," Antone said. "It's that type of [hands-on] interaction that was used throughout the whole program."

At the Maine Air National Guard firearms training simulator in Bangor, participants got to face off against criminals on a video screen, which taught participants how quickly officers are trained to react during situations, said Antone.

"They truly enjoyed that," he said.

The citizens academy, originally suggested by Acting Chief Danny Green, will be held again in September.

"I urge [residents] to sign up now," DeBeck said. "It's just going to create a community that will keep an eye out for each other."

Residents must be 18 and cannot have any felony convictions to enroll. To find out more or for an application, call or stop by the police department.

A copyright article from the Bangor Daily News, Saturday, June 18, 2005.