First in almost a decade – Pocatello PD relaunches citizen police academy

For the first time in eight years, the Pocatello Police Department is relaunching its Citizen Police Academy once again.

The department’s community services specialist Dianne Brush said this academy is the perfect way to allow community members to catch a glimpse into the life of a police officer, and vice versa.

“It’s a good way for the citizens to get to know a little bit more about what the police department does and how citizens themselves can help keep themselves safe in the community,” Brush said.

Every Tuesday night starting April 22, police officers will train the academy volunteers on the skills they’ve honed while serving as an officer throughout the years.

Brush said she was surprised to see ten volunteers already signed-up and ready to go within the first day the announcement was posted.

The academy is free for those who sign up and are accepted and will take place every Tuesday night through June.

Brush added, those who sign up don’t necessarily have to volunteer at the police station, but the staff could use them now that they would be trained.

“Just in our police department our volunteers save the city over $250,000 every year in the jobs they do that save us from having to hire someone else to do them.”

She said they’re expecting to only take approximately 25 to 30 people this first year, and hopes to carry this training on for years to come.

For more information about how and where to sign up, visit the Pocatello Police Department website here:

http://reportacrime.pocatello.us/academy/