OAK PARK, MI – The City of Oak Park’s Public Safety Department is proud to announce that it is bringing back its popular Citizen Academy this spring. Starting May 1, the Academy runs every Wednesday in May through May 29, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Participation for Oak Park residents is free, although registration is required.

Started in 2015, the Academy is one of many strategies used by the Oak Park Public Safety Department in the name of community policing. The Academy is meant for “citizens who would like a better understanding of the day-to-day operations of a police/fire department.” The goal of the Academy is to strengthen relationships between the City’s Public Safety Officers and its residents. Members of the local media are invited to participate as well.

“The Oak Park Public Safety Department has always had an outstanding relationship with the residents of Oak Park,” says Public Safety Director Steve Cooper. “Our Citizen Academy is another wonderful example of how we strive to develop and build positive relations with those whom we serve. I could not imagine working in a better community.”

Registration for the Academy is open until Friday, April 12. In the Academy, participants will learn about law and order procedures, crime scene investigation practices, and dispatch operations. Further, participants will have the option of going through the Firearm Training Simulator, or FATS, one of the only simulators of its kind in Metro Detroit. Overall, those who participate in the Academy get to see what it’s like being an Oak Park Public Safety Officer so that they can gain a better appreciation for the work they do.

“This program works conjointly with many of our other Public Safety programs to build strong foundations throughout our community,” says City Manager Erik Tungate. “The things we do in terms of innovation are leading to lower crime rates and the development of better communication channels between our officers and our residents.”