MOUNT VERNON — Law enforcement is a tough job, one that community members often misunderstand.
Sgt. Nicholas Myrda of the Mount Vernon Police Department hopes the department’s new Citizen Police Academy program will help change that.
Citizen Police Academies (CPAs) aim to bridge the gap between public perception and the officer behind the badge.
The Mount Vernon Police Department is joining the hundreds of departments nationwide that offer one.
“One of the things Chief [Robert Morgan] asked me to do when I took this job was to create a Citizen Police Academy,” said Myrda, MVPD’s community engagement officer, during a recent city council meeting.
CPAs provide insight into how a police department operates and the law enforcement profession.
The goal is to get the community involved so that they understand the procedures, responsibilities, demands, and laws that guide police officers’ behavior.
“They can see what we do and how we do it. They can see the equipment and do ride-alongs,” Myrda said.
Morgan noted the CPA is not a neighborhood watch program.
“It’s more to show there’s more to the police department than a police officer driving around in a cruiser,” Morgan told Knox Pages last month. “We do a lot of stuff that people don’t see.”
Participants will attend two classes a month for four months. The first cohort will meet the second and last Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Candidates will undergo a background check and receive a certificate at graduation.
Hands-on activities
The first class starts on March 13. Instructors will cover various topics, including the use of force, traffic enforcement, search and seizure and drug interception.
Hands-on activities, such as taser and jujitsu demonstrations, help officers explain law enforcement techniques.
While the MVPD geared the class toward citizens, Myrda asked council members to participate in the first session so they could provide feedback and suggest improvements.
“That way when we start rolling it out, the citizens will get a better product,” he said.
The MVPD will select participants in the first two classes.
“After that, I want the people in the classes to give me candidates who they think should be in the academy,” Myrda said.
Myrda suggested those interested in riding with officers do so on different shifts.
“Riding at 2 p.m. on a Monday is a lot different from midnight on a Saturday,” he said. “It’s a different variety. It’s a different type of officer; the people out and about are different.”
Myrda said if an officer gets into a pursuit, they will drop the citizen somewhere safe before engaging in pursuit.
“We’re not going to just drop you off the side of the road; we’ll make sure you get somewhere safe,” he said.
Citizen Police Academy: A value-added program
The Orlando, Florida, Police Department organized the first CPA in 1985.
The 10-week course included an optional class on firearm safety and use. Participants also had the chance to ride along with police officers.
Many Ohio cities, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Springfield, and Hilliard, offer a Citizen Police Academy.
The Hilliard Police Department started its CPA in 2010. Community Relations Administrator Andrea Litchfield said the department is extremely proud to provide the program.
“At a minimum, CPA allows participants to learn about their local law enforcement, make new friends, and — in our experience — kickstart their own volunteer and public service efforts,” she said via email.
HPD’s course is free and offered once a year, typically between January and April. Classes are on Tuesday evenings.
“We are now in Class 15 and have graduated more than 400 people from the program,” Litchfield said.
The HPD invites CPA graduates to join the Hilliard Citizens’ Police/Fire Academy Alumni Association. The nonprofit organization volunteers for various police and fire events.
“They do everything from hand out popcorn at National Night Out, manage calculators at our Heroes and Helpers (Shop with a Cop), grill hamburgers at our charity softball event, assist seniors during our Senior Day at the County Fair event, and much more,” Litchfield said.
In 2019, Hilliard’s program was named National CPA of the Year.
The program faced a challenge in 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the class halfway through.
“We took that time to refresh the entire curriculum,” Litchfield said. “In 2021, we invited back the same classmates and are pleased many of them returned.”
A dedicated community relations officer oversees Hilliard’s program.
“We certainly believe the support provided by our chief of police, city manager, and council have been paramount to the program’s success,” Litchfield said.
Cincinnati CPA
Since its inception in 1995, the Cincinnati Police Department’s CPA has graduated 1,600 citizens.
The department held four sessions a year initially. Now, it holds one a year.
Training Coordinator Ashley Hiett said declining student participation is a challenge. The first year, 40 students participated.
In 2024, 14 participated.
“We have seen a decline in the number of students able to commit to our eight-week program,” Hiett said via email.
“In 2013, we reduced the number of sessions each year to two, fall and spring, and in 2020 we suspended the program for COVID-19. When we relaunched in 2022, we decided to reduce the opportunity to just once a year.”
Hiett said the community has always responded positively toward the program.
“The students who graduate from the program are overwhelmingly grateful for the experience and leave the program wanting to continue learning about the police department and ways they can be community partners and continue building the relationship between the community and the department,” she said.
Hiett said the department frequently hears that community members want more access to officers, more insight into what they do on a normal shift, and how the community can be more involved.
“Due to our size, the number of volunteer opportunities we have for citizens is small — mostly just our citizens on patrol program,” she said.