Citizen Police Academy seeking participants

The Amherst Police Department will be offering a spring session of its Citizen Police Academy beginning Feb. 12.

The CPA is a 13-week program developed for the purpose of educating the general public on the workings of the Police Department. Participants will receive an overview on all departments from dispatch to patrol.

Each week will provide an opportunity for a different department to offer information on its workings, including the detective bureau, canine, emergency response team, traffic, narcotics, criminal investigation and more. Class members will learn what it takes to become an officer, from recruitment and training to spending a shift in the field during a ride along with an officer.

The CPA was developed with the intended purpose of fostering the close relationship that exists between the police officers and the citizens of the town of Amherst and increasing mutual understanding.

Class size is limited. Interested applicants should contact Capt. Stephen McGonagle, 689-1311, smcgonagle@apdny.org or Lt. Ronald Farszmil at RFarszmil@apdny.org. Applications may also be printed online at www.amherst.ny.us/police.