East Lansing residents will have the opportunity to attend a citizens’ police academy hosted by East Lansing police.
Those who work or live in East Lansing or are enrolled in MSU and are 18 or older may submit an application to East Lansing police. The academy is an 11-week program beginning Jan. 24.
Criminal investigation procedures, community policing and legal issues are just a few of the topics that will be taught to the 20-member class.
East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said the class is a way to reach out to the community in a positive way instead of seeing citizens at their worst.
“Departments throughout the nation have started citizen academies because it is a way for citizens to get involved with the police department,” Liebler said. “We’re really hopeful the class will fill up. I would encourage MSU students to take the class.”
Liebler said there are misconceptions about how police officials do their jobs and the class would allow students to see how and why they do their jobs.
East Lansing police Sgt. Patricia Nowak said she agrees with Liebler - the academy is a community effort and wants residents to learn what the department does.
She said she would like to see students involve themselves with the program because they are a very important part of the community.
“We have a lot of talent in our department and plan to use them as much as possible,” Nowak said. “We do have some other officers who will be coming in from other areas and departments.”
The classes are held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Wednesday. The class will be broken into one and a half hour segments so two subjects can be covered. The first subjects to be covered include use of force and patrol procedures.
Nowak said the academy was suggested to her by East Lansing police Chief Louis Muhn, who has a very strong interest and devotion to such programs.
“We hope to have all of the applications in by Dec. 11,” Nowak said. “It is free to the public and can only benefit our citizens.”
Applications can be picked up at the East Lansing Police Department, 409 Park Lane, and the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road. Applications may also be downloaded off the Internet at www.ci.east-lansing.mi.us.
