Parkersburg, WV - During Mayor Bob Newell's tenure as police chief, the Parkersburg Police Department offered a free academy to teach the basics of police work. Chief Martin is bringing back this program. Details on the class schedule, how to sign up and other details are listed below:

WHY A POLICE ACADEMY FOR CITIZENS?

     The intended result of the academy is to give our residents a better understanding of what we do and how we do it. We hope to also build an ongoing working relationship with those attendees that will extend through the coming years in our mutual fight against crime and disorder.
     We believe that the more educated the public is about how the police department operates, the more trustworthy and less feared we become. The classes offered will cover our basic operations and will be instructed mostly by members of the Parkersburg Police Department.  All classes are designed
by members of the police department and are intended to give overviews of the area taught.
     Ten classes will be held and most will last about three hours.  Classes will be held every Monday from 6:00 p.m. to approximately 9:00 p.m.  Many of the classes will contain “hands on” work for the attendees. Class members will also have the opportunity to ride with a police officer during a tour of duty. There is no charge to attend the academy. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
     The next academy is scheduled to begin April 9, 2012, and run until June 18, 2012.  Deadline for applications is March 28, 2012.  No class on May 28th, Memorial Day.

COURSE CURRICULUM

•    Class 1:    Introduction and Orientation/Department
Administration
•    Class 2:    Patrol Operations/Bicycle Unit/School Resource
Officers
•    Class 3:    Criminal Investigations/Juvenile Investigations
•    Class 4:    Use of Force/Traffic Stops/Taser
•    Class 5:    DUI’s/Prisoner Processing/Chaplain Program
•    Class 6:    Computer Crimes/Evidence Technician
•    Class 7:    Narcotics/Canine Unit
•    Class 8:    Firearms/S.W.A.T.
•    Class 9:    Driving Simulator
•    Class 10:    Mock Court Case/Graduation
•    To Be Scheduled:  Ride-Along with Uniform Division

C.P.A. QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants for the Citizens Police Academy must:

•    Be at least 18 years of age.
•    Undergo a criminal background check.
•    Be a Wood County resident.
•    Must be able to attend all classes.

HOW DO I APPLY

Applications are available at:

Parkersburg Police Department
#1 Government Square-3rd floor
Parkersburg, WV  26101

and

Parkersburg Police Substation
Parkersburg City Park

For more information, please call the Parkersburg Police
Department at 424-8444.

All Academy courses are offered free of charge but are limited in size. So, please get your application in soon. When the next academy class is full, applications will be held for future classes.

Note:  The classes are posted in the order they are scheduled to be presented, however, due to the nature of police work, it may become necessary to change the class topic for any given night to accommodate an instructors needs.