Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano Police Department is looking to give residents an inside view of its operations with the 2015 Citizens Police Academy scheduled to kick off on March 16.
The academy is open to people who live or work in Shawano and want to learn more about Police Department operations, issues and challenges.
Chief Mark Kohl said the academy will help provide a better understanding of how the Shawano Police Department functions on a daily basis.
“There are a lot of questions about how we operate and why we do what we do,” he said.
Participants will gain knowledge in patrol operations, investigations, use of force, community policing and much more.
Each of the five sessions runs from 6-9 p.m. Mondays from March 16 through April 13 at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St.
The department previously scheduled an academy last September but cancelled it after only five participants registered in advance.
Kohl said that ended up being a little premature, because on the night the academy was to have started another half dozen or so people turned out for it.
This time, to avoid any confusion, the department has set a registration deadline of Wednesday.
Kohl offered the same program when he was chief here in 2001, and he said it was well-received.
“It’s a good partnership builder,” he said.
John White was one of the participants when Kohl offered the academy in 2001.
“I learned the workings of how the department runs, and — not that I didn’t have respect before, but — it gave me a brand new respect for what we have out here,” White said.
“These guys put their lives on the line every day,” he said. “It opens your eyes to exactly what’s going on and to things I never knew were part of it.”
For White, the sessions also served to add a more human dimension to those in uniform.
“These guys are just as crazy as we are,” he said. “They like to laugh, too.”
White said he would encourage anyone to take part in the academy, particularly young adults who might have a skewed view of law enforcement.
“It might change their minds,” he said.
The first session will cover agency operations and crime prevention, and will give participants a chance to ask Kohl any burning questions they might have.
In subsequent weeks, participants will also see what it’s like to investigate a crime scene and learn about the role DNA and the State Crime Lab plays in the investigation.
“We want to dispel the belief that it’s like CSI on TV where they can solve anything in an hour,” Kohl said.
Participants will visit the shooting range to learn about firearms, defense and arrest tactics and use of force, and take a trip to the recreation center to see the dive team in action.
Participants will also learn about OWI and drug enforcement; see how high-risk traffic stops and arrests are made; and get a hands-on look at the department’s squads, tools and technology.
The academy is free of charge. It is open to all citizens who either live or work in the city of Shawano. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Background checks will be completed, prior to applicants being accepted into the academy.
Information is available at the Shawano Police Department, 125 S. Sawyer St., and online at www.shawanowi.govoffice2.com.