They’ve worked harder than most citizens.
“It’s pretty strenuous,” East Lansing Deputy Chief Tom Wibert said.
They can now see things other citizens can’t see.
“I hope you can watch ‘Cops’ with a critical eye, and say ‘get your flashlight out of your gun hand, dummy,’” he said.
The 19 graduates from the third class of the East Lansing Citizens Police Academy have taken the time to learn more about the East Lansing police and what they do.
“I’ve always said that to know us is to love us,” Wibert said.
Name by name, each graduating student was handed a mug, T-shirt, graduation certificate and a composite of each participant’s photo.
The 11-week program met for the first time in January 2001. Since the program’s inception, several curriculum changes have been made. Students now receive more hands-on experience, rather than just listening to lectures. They also have eliminated some of the topics that bored people.
“There’s less administration-type topics and more actual police work-type topics,” Wibert said.
The program’s goal is to show normal people how the department works and to help educate them about the police system. Students participate in ride alongs with the officers and make decisions on real-life scenarios.
“There are a lot of urban myths about police breaking in doors and hassling people,” Wibert said. “But these (students) know police can’t break in doors, or they’d be fired.”
Not only that, but the police department has hopes these graduates will take this information to better educate others.
“What I hope you’ll take away with you is to be ambassadors,” Wibert told the graduates. “Even at parties or in the living room, where it counts.”
The ceremony deviated from a typical graduation ceremony - it lasted only about a half hour. But, it showed the police department’s appreciation for those who took the time to enroll in this course. It also showed the devotion of the students involved.
The wide variety of students involved in the program ranged from middle-aged men and women to MSU students. Many came in without knowing much about the East Lansing Police Department.
“I thought it would be interesting,” said Nate Tippmann, a supply change management junior who participated in the program. “Just to know what went on in the police department - my view from the police was just from when I ran into them late at night.”
Other students can’t express enough how much this program meant to them.
“Overall, it was an extremely positive experience,” said Alton Kirk, a clinical psychologist and East Lansing resident. “I would certainly encourage other people to partake in the academy.
“I’m more confident in the police department than I ever have been in the past.”
