WARNER ROBINS -- Participants in the Warner Robins Police Department’s Citizen Police Academies get to do things most people never do.
Among them, they handle radar speed guns, pet fierce police dogs and have a chance at firing submachine guns.
Through such exercises and class lectures, those involved gain an understanding of the responsibilities and challenges of law enforcement professionals.
“I suppose one of the things we’re doing is making ambassadors for the department,” said Capt. John Clay, who heads community initiatives for the department.
“We’re really just talking about how we do our jobs, the techniques and tactics we use, but at the same time we’re fostering interaction between police and citizens,” he said.
“Let’s face it, when most people encounter an officer, it’s not always at a good time. But in the academy, they get to talk and relate to one another as people -- and we have some great people.”
Clay said learning more about the department helps participants go into the community and tell others how -- and why -- the department operates like it does.
The 12-week course is now under way on Thursday nights at the department’s training facility off Ga. 247.
Topics covered include criminal and drug investigations, traffic and patrol operations, the K-9 unit, SWAT operations, 911, firearms and even department hiring procedures.
Anne Stern, a member of the class, said she believes the program helps create better citizens.
“I heard about it from the daughter of a friend who went through it last year,” she said. “Overall, you learn what they do, who does what and you get a better idea of when to call police. What’s really amazed me is finding out all they do with the number of staff that they have. I really do think I’m being better prepared to relate to the department and their work and how to help others as well.”
Officer Tim Pippio is part of the city’s motorcycle squad and teaches the traffic portion of the academy.
“On the traffic side, we’ve already had seven fatalities so far this year,” he said. “In the academy, we show that we’re not just about hitting people in the pocketbook by giving them tickets. We’re out there trying to keep people safe and maybe even save their lives.”
Pippio took the class through a wide range of topics from the ins and outs of driver licensing to traffic laws to how traffic officers operate. He also gave a demonstration on his BMW police motorcycle and let them clock his speed with a radar gun.
Clay, who has been in law enforcement for 30 years and with the Warner Robins department for 28, said the academy is free, is conducted twice a year and is not just for residents of Warner Robins.
“It’s a very good program,” he said. “We have two academies a year and average about 20 people per academy. Each of the officers who present a class prepare their own materials and demonstrations, and from the feedback we get, they do an outstanding job, really outstanding.”
Clay said the next academy will likely be in March 2012.
