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The 2010 Citizens Police Academy has been
completed.
Please check back for future classes.
| The Houlton Police Department is putting
on the Second annual Citizen's Police Academy.
Classes start on February 24 2010 and go from
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Classes run once a week
for 10 weeks. The academy is free and open
to all Houlton residents and persons employed
in Houlton. This is a great opportunity to
visit and learn about the Houlton Police Dept.
Training sessions and lectures will focus
on the various aspects of law enforcement
with emphasis on the duties and responsibilities
of you local police department. |
Please read below for more information
about the class and how to register.
Stop by the Houlton Police Department to get a
copy or download and print a copy and return it
to the department. Click
here for copy of CPA Registration Form. (PDF
Version)
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The Houlton Police Department has found that education has
been most effective in gaining understanding and support
from the community. The Citizen Police Academy offers citizens
insights into how police officers perform their duties and
how the Houlton Police Department serves the community.
The purpose and mission of the Citizen Police Academy is
to foster better understanding between citizens and police
through education. The Academy will promote better understanding
to the attendees so that they may possess greater insight
into police practices and the services that we provide.
Graduates of the Academy can share their knowledge and experiences
with the community as the opportunity arises. Everyone benefits
from enhancing citizen and community understanding of the
role and function of their police department.
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What
is the purpose of the Citizens' Police Academy?
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The Citizens' Academy is designed to increase understanding
between the citizens of Houlton and the police by educating
the community. Our intent is to acquaint citizens with law
enforcement's role in the criminal justice system, and provide
increased understanding of the tasks and duties that police
officers face in their daily work. By obtaining this better
understanding the citizens are able to assist in finding
realistic solutions to the communities or neighborhood problems.
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Where
did the concept originate?
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The program originated in Orlando, Florida in 1984. Orlando
was the first city in the United States to start a Citizen
Police Academy.
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What
was the incentive for establishing a Citizens'
Police Academy in Houlton?
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The Houlton Police Department's mission statement clearly
establishes the philosophy that the people plus the police
is paramount for community oriented policing. The Houlton
Police Department seeks to educate the citizens to create
and develop a sense of cooperation between the citizens
and the police to establish the common goal of providing
a safe and secure community for all of our citizens.
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How
is the class conducted?
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Citizens meet one night each week from 6:30 PM
to 9:30 PM for 10 weeks, starting on February 24, 2010.
They receive approximately twenty-six hours of classroom
instruction by police officers and civilians who supervise
or work in each particular division within the police department.
The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to those
of the regular Police Academy, with a mix of lecture format
and scenario/hands-on training. Participants are encouraged
to ask questions and express their views and concerns to
members of the Houlton Police Department. Participants will
be asked to critique the various instructors as well as
the overall academy experience.
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What
type of information is covered in class?
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We try to cover just about all areas of the police department
including (but not limited to) Traffic, Criminal Investigations,
Drug Enforcement, Dispatch, Patrol, etc. with emphasis on
the Patrol Division as they are the ones that the public
comes into contact with most often.
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What
should I expect from this course?
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The Houlton Police Department Citizens' Academy (HPD CPA)
is a 10-week program that is intended to provide participants
with an overview of the Police Department's functions and
operational procedures. The weekly sessions are not intended
to train participants to be Police Officers but are intended
to help create a citizenry that is both familiar and comfortable
with their Police Department. The classes are taught by
officers of the Houlton Police Department, which gives participants
ample opportunity to interact, ask questions, and speak
with the instructors as well as the Command Staff. Participants
will be asked to critique the various instructors as well
as the overall academy experience.
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How
will the information be obtained in this
course be used by the public?
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We believe that an informed public is one that is better
able to understand decisions made by the police department.
We want the participants to have enough background information
to now why the police "do what they do" and we hope the
class will break down many barriers between the police and
the public.
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Who
is eligible to attend?
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Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and live or
work in the greater Houlton area. 16 and 17 year olds may
also attend the program if accompanied by their legal guardian.
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What
are the expectations of the participants?
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Due to the anticipated high number of applicants; we require
a commitment to the 10-week program. In order to achieve
the full benefit of the program, attendance is critical.
Complete the Citizens' Police Academy registration form.
Stop by the Houlton Police Department to get a copy or download
and print a copy and return it to the department. Click
here for copy of CPA Registration Form. (PDF
Version)
If you have any questions or need more information please
contact Sergeant Eric Crouse
, Citizen Police Academy Coordinator at 532-2287.
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