The Citizens Academy offered by the Park City Police Department is returning this Spring.
Park City police officer Terry Knechtel explains why the police department offers the 11-week course.
“This here opens up the door,” Knechtel explained. “It allows the public to see the inner workings of the Police Department and what we do and the resources in the community that we use. This will start May 1st 6:30 in the evening at the Police Department. It will run every Wednesday same place, same location, 6:30 to 9:30. I'm accepting applications either online the police department's website, or you can come into the Police Department, or if you get in touch with me all arrange to get you an application.”
Knechtel says that each year they usually have around 15 people, he describes some of the activities members of the class can expect to participate in.
“We’ll will bring in, like I said, the resources that we use from outside the community or within the law enforcement community but like SWAT,” Knechtel said. “We do not have a SWAT team. We’ll have a K9 demonstration, resources that we use as the fire and EMS and the Emergency Management. We have a day set aside to take people to the range and get opportunity to use the tools that we use in our job. There's a handgun, service weapon, rifles, shotguns. They’ll probably might even get a chance to see how a taser works. Not on me though. We’ll let people see what we do such as investigations. Kind of give people a little bit better understanding on traffic laws and Utah law.”
The department prefers to have people in the community in the academy but will consider applications from those who live or work in Park City. Applicants must also be 18 years or older and pass a background check. For a link to the application you can visit here.
