West Carrollton Police Department will be hosting their 12th annual Citizen Police Academy beginning Aug. 16.

The 10-week course will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Fredrick J. Beard Training/Emergency Operations Center at the West Carrollton Civic Center, 300 E. Central Ave. and is open to any West Carrollton resident 18 and older.

“This class is for anyone who has ever been interested in or wondered why we do what we do. There are a lot of misconceptions about the police. We take participants through every nook and cranny of what we do. We have a lot of fun and it gives us a chance to build relationships with our residents and show them what we do each day,” said West Carrollton police Sgt. Rob Hensley.

A variety of officers and detectives from the department will take turns teaching the courses. Course topics range from traffic stops, dispatch communications, hostage negotiation, online predators, crash investigation and evidence collection.

Students will get hands-on opportunities such as a ride-along with police officers where they will see how the police cruiser laptops work and to practice using a radar speed gun. They will also learn skills such as lifting fingerprints, driving in chase pursuit simulation, as well as have the opportunity to learn how a Taser gun works.

The course is limited to 25 participants and there is no fee to take part in the classes. All participants receive a free shirt and are recognized before city council after completing the course.

If you are interested, call Sgt. Hensley at (937) 859-3688 or e-mail pddeputychief@westcarrollton.org.