The Winchester Police Department (WPD) is now accepting applications for its spring 2020 citizen academies: 1) Teen Citizen Police Academy (Saturday, March 7) and 2) adult Citizen Academy (Thursday evenings, March 12 to May 14).
The Teen Citizen Academy is for youth ages 13-17. The one-day session will be held at the Timbrook Public Safety Center from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 and end with a graduation ceremony and refreshments. As in previous Academies, participants will enjoy an inside look at the WPD with a mix of demonstrations and discussions. Topics will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Criminal Investigation
- Officer Recruitment/Testing
- Emergency Communications Center (Dispatch)
- Police Training/Field Training
- Juvenile Offenders/School Resource Officer
- Gang Activity
- Narcotics & Drugs/K-9 Demo
- Crimes Against Children/Domestic Violence
- SWAT
“We have revamped the Teen Academy based on participant feedback, and it’s more interactive than ever,” stated Officer Katlynn Slonaker, one of the program’s coordinators. “Participation in the fall session reached maximum capacity, and we hope to have a full session again this spring.”
Parents or guardians interested in registering their teen for the class may contact Officer Slonaker at katlynn.slonaker@winchesterva.gov or visit the WPD’s Teen Academy web page for more information.
Adults (age 18 and up) are invited to participate in the annual Citizen Academy, now in its 23rd year. Over the course of the Academy, which will take place Thursday evenings, March 12-May 14, from 6-9 p.m. at the Timbrook Public Safety Center, participants will enjoy a mix of lecture-style presentations and interactive activities including, but not limited to, the following:
- Tours of local adult and juvenile detention centers
- Firearms training demonstration
- Emergency Communications Center tour
- Vehicle stop/DUI demonstration
- Polygraph demonstration
A full listing of topics can be found on the WPD’s website. Graduates from the Citizen Academy will be eligible to apply for the WPD’s Volunteers in Policing program, which provides the Department with assistance at community events and free children’s fingerprinting services. Questions about the program and application can be directed to the program coordinator, Detective William Griffith, at william.griffith@winchesterva.gov.