The Carbondale Police Department is offering residents a chance to learn more about what its officers do during the upcoming Citizens Police Academy.
Community Information Officer Randy Mathis says some people get the wrong impression about law enforcement officers based on what they see on television or in movies. He says the academy puts residents in scenarios faced by officers to give them a true sense of what it's like to wear a badge.
"We do a lot of role plays in the class, which puts people actually in the position of what the law enforcement officers actually go through. It gives them a little different perspective when it comes to making decisions on some of the issues that they're seeing. Our goal is to let people see what we truly do in law enforcement versus some of those things they see on TV and in movies. And to then take that information and tell others about what we do. So, it spreads the information through the community one person at a time."
Mathis says the classes at the Carbondale Police Department run on five consecutive Wednesdays from 6–9 p.m. starting February 8th.
The academy is free and anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to apply.
Anyone interested in applying can contact Officer Mathis at the Carbondale Police Department at (618) 457-3200 or go to carbondalepolice.com.
