Citizens Police Academy

I was able to participate in the Springfield Citizens Police Academy this year and I truly had a ball. For 11 weeks (3 hours on Tuesday nights) we went through every aspect of the police department. This academy is all about better educating the public on the police department & procedures.

Most of the classes were speakers from each department: Crime Prevention, Investigations, Records, Gangs and Stolen Vehicles to name a few. We were treated to an up close and personal demonstration of our K-9 unit, which was good for me. These dogs had always frightened me, but no longer. I have a greater understanding of who these dogs are and why they do what they do. I don’t ever plan on being a criminal on the run so I have no fear.We toured the Lane County Jail and that was a real eye opener. (my political bitch here) Everyone from our politicians, news media and even Sheriff keeps telling us that we have an over crowded jail. Well I guess that’s one way to look at it but it sure didn’t paint a clear picture for me. More than ½ our jail sits empty. Why? Because there’s not enough employees to staff the jail and so the criminals who are lodged are all crammed into just a few rooms. Are those over crowded? Yes. But there is plenty of “room” to house these people and keep them off the streets. So in MY WORDS, we are understaffed at the jail. Plain and simple. (my bitch is done)

SWAT came to speak with us and that was quite fun. Here I am looking through some night vision goggles. Oh, how I’d love to own some of these! The woman sitting to my right is Clara and we had a very good time together. Her husband used to be a cop in the area many years ago. She brought in a photo her husband took of her standing inside the Springfield jail cell when it was still being used, around 60 years ago. Just a photo op. Oh how I Love her!

We then joined our SWAT team out at their practice facility to watch them work. We were able to stand on a catwalk above the practice house as they stormed in. They threw four concussion grenades (I think that’s what they called them). BIG BANG, BIG LIGHT and lots of smoke! Really hitting all your senses, sound, light, smell and we felt the blast too! Our class all looked at one other and started to giggle with delight at all this adult fun!

Sat inside the SWAT van. Don’t know why
I wanted to other than I just did. And as you can see I was not the only one.

We were treated to the range where we got to shoot samples of their guns and a few others that they don’t use on the force. I literally had a blast here. I’m shooting a revolver in this photo but my favorite was the Glock, partly because it held twice as many rounds but they also had this really cool metal tree target that swung when you hit it. I kept going back to this table (literally over and over again) shooting at that metal tree. (ting, ting, ting, ting) My best was only one miss on a full clip. Can you see me glowing through your computer screen? Fun stuff!

I think one of my favorite classes however was the crime lab. It’s nothing like CSI, with all their blue lights and neat parlor tricks, but it was still really cool. The science they do is amazing and how they come up new techniques is incredible. Out of the box science.
Kind of like kids at play I guess in what is sometimes a really gross environment.

Here is my graduating class,
Springfield Citizen’s Police Academy #23.

Two thumbs up if you have any interest. I would take the class all again if I could. It was a very good time and the education was fabulous! What am I doing with this education now? Well, I shared a little with you and that’s one thing they want us to do. I will also have opportunities to staff SPD booths at events around town, if I so choose.

I know, this was all a little wordy, but that is how much fun I had.
I could go on much more in fact. You probably should get back to work now so I’ll stop.

Hey, it was a blog all about me. HA