As students return to MSU in January for spring semester classes, Sgt. Patti Nowak is hoping a few will be taking notes — and shooting simulated firearms — in her course.
Nowak will coordinate the East Lansing Police Department's Citizens' Police Academy, an 11-week program beginning on Jan. 11 with classes held each Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m.
The classes will delve into police patrol procedures, the legal system, community policing and criminal investigations, and are open to permanent and temporary residents.
The free program is open to 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis.
The State News talked with Nowak on Nov. 21 about the academy and the student population's role in the program.
The State News: What is the main goal of the academy?
Sgt. Patti Nowak: To get representatives of the whole community to meet with us and see what it is that we do. It's for residents to see how the local law enforcement works and it's for us to get perspective from residents about what they think the issues are.
SN: What are some of the issues that people bring up?
PN: It's usually the daily quality-of-life issues that are more important to the residents — people mowing their lawns at certain times of the day.
SN: What is the usual makeup of people in the course?
PN: It's a mixture. … that's our biggest target. We don't just want the permanent residents. We want to have students, too. We ask them to challenge us and they usually do. The biggest thing is, we want them to have some sort of affiliation with East Lansing. If you're an MSU resident, then that's considered an affiliation.
SN: How often do you have the academy?
PN: This is the seventh one since 2001. It depends on resources. We try to do it a couple times a year, but recently the resources have been tight.
SN: Have any graduates of the academy gone on to become actual police officers?
PN: I believe that there were one or two that went on to be police officers. The graduates were used once in a missing persons search.
SN: What are some of the things participants can expect in the class?
PN: There is simulated firearms training. We encourage — in fact, it's required to graduate — all participants to ride with a police officer during the academy. I encourage all of my instructors to do more hands-on training.
SN: Do you think the program has been a success, and how so?
PN: Very much. It's educated the police on some issues as well as explain procedurally what happens in the community. The discussions have been very interesting and very stimulating.
For more information, or to register for the academy, contact Nowak at (517) 319-6840, or register online at www.cityofeastlansing.com.
