The Pella Police Department is preparing for their first ever Citizens’ Police Academy on Saturday.
Lt. David Beukelman says the program is aimed to foster a better relationship between residents and law enforcement.
“The people of Pella should have a high expectation for us,” Beukelman says. “When they call us and meet us, they should expect the best that we can provide them.”
“Hopefully, this gives them a bigger picture and perspective of what we can and cannot do.”
He says the eight-week course will highlight different aspects of police work, and will also feature simulated accidents, crime scenes, and time on the shooting range.
“We hope to have different officers and people in law enforcement present on narcotics, criminal investigations, traffic goals and laws, communications, and dispatching,” Beukelman says.
The first session beginning on September 12 is a trial run, which Beukelman hopes will lead to classes open to the general public in the future.