Lafayette Citizens' Academy offers insight into police work
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Lafayette residents have until May 12 to sign up for the Lafayette Police Department's Citizens' Academy. The Academy is a 12-week program that meets every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins on June 4.
The Academy allows residents to tour rarely accessible areas of the Lafayette Police Department (LPD).
Information Officer Sgt. Robin Green is excited to discuss this with community members, introduce the LPD and showcase a side people rarely see.
'They get to come in and learn about all the different areas of the police department, and they get to ask questions they may have, and we can discuss it,' Green added.
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Green understands people want to know about certain decisions directly important to them.
'When they leave here, we want them to have a better understanding of what we do and why we do it, and whatever they may have questions about,' Green said.
Participants of the Citizens Academy will embark on a tour of the various departments within the LPD and discover firsthand how each department operates. Many people don't know there is a fitness room for officers inside the LPD.
'This was donated by Planet Fitness. They were renovating their gym and they donated all of this stuff to us,' Green stated.
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In addition, the LPD has several interview rooms with resources to help officers during interrogations, interviews and collecting evidence.
'This is one of our interview rooms that we used to interview, and we have one on the other side and three additional ones just like this. We have the TV monitors where we can monitor the people we have on the inside,' she explained.
Another area Green showcased was the Operating While Intoxicated or OWI processing area.
'We'll have someone stand right here and we will read them their rights. Also, there is a camera right here so that we can check on the Nystagmus in their eyes. The Nystagmus is going to be the jerking of the eyes when they consume so much alcohol,' Green said.
Sergeant Green believes the Academy provides valuable insights for the public and the LPD.
'We have a better relationship. I'm not saying we're friends, but we have a better understanding, and we have a better relationship with these individuals,' Green mentioned.
Applications can be obtained at the LPD or email pio@lafayettela.gov
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