Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
City and county authorities will offer citizen academies this month, as Shawano police and the sheriff’s department each look to educate residents about the workings of local law enforcement.
Friday is the official deadline for applying for the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department’s Citizen’s Academy, but applications will be taken until classes are filled.
The academy will consist of seven three-hour sessions taking place from 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday from Sept. 16 through Oct. 28. The academy will be held at the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office at 405 N. Main St. in Shawano.
Citizens will be exposed to topics relating to the duties and responsibilities of law enforcement officers. The topics will be instructed by sheriff’s deputies or other trained instructors.
Some of the topics covered in lecture and hands-on exercises include crime scene investigation and crime prevention; firearms training, defense and arrest tactics, use of force and concealed carry; special response and dive teams; traffic enforcement, high-risk stops and drunken driving laws; drug enforcement and K-9s; and department operations, including the sheriff’s office, jail and emergency government.
Participants will also get instruction and certification in CPR.
There is a $30 fee for the academy that will cover the CPR training; the fee is be due at the first session.
The academy is open to Shawano County citizens 18 years of age or older with no felony arrests or convictions.
This is the first citizen’s academy the sheriff’s department has offered.
“We are offering this Citizens Academy because we want to help the community understand what we do and what we can’t do,” Sheriff Adam Bieber said. “We want the community to understand what they can do to work with their local police or Sheriff’s Office to make their communities better. We are offering CPR certification so they can help preserve life.”
As of Tuesday, 11 people had signed up. The department plans to limit class size to 16.
Meanwhile, the Shawano Police Department will hold another of its citizens academies starting Sept. 14
The academy will run from 6-9 p.m. Mondays at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St. There is no fee.
Some of the topics that will be covered include patrol, administration, crime prevention, neighborhood watch, water rescue, use of force, firearms, drug investigations, K-9s, crime scene investigation and traffic stops.
Those interested in the police academy can call the department at 715-524-4545.
Applications for the sheriff’s department academy are available at the department or online at the county web site, www.co.shawano.wi.us.
For information about the county’s academy, the academy coordinators can be contacted at 715-526-7905.