by Wesley Harris
The Ruston Police Department has announced the launch of its first Citizens Academy.
The five-week program will take place each Tuesday evening 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from September 16 through October 14.
The program is one of Chief Eric Watson’s strategies for bringing the community and police officers closer together.
Watson said the idea of a citizens police academy is not unique to Ruston. He’s seen it used successfully in other cities. The chief said the program is not an officer recruitment strategy but a means of educating the public so citizens can better understand what police officers do.
“It’s about creating informed citizens who understand the work we do, why we do it, and how we make decisions in high-pressure situations,” Watson said.
Law enforcement agencies across the country have found citizens police academies to be a powerful tool in building trust and cooperation with the communities they serve. By opening their doors and allowing residents to walk in the shoes of a police officer, departments aim to dispel myths, reduce tension, and foster mutual respect.
Deputy Chief Dylan Castaneda said participants will get an inside look at the day-to-day operations of the department from patrol and investigations to specialized units. He explained what participants will experience.
“Each week you’ll kind of get a different view of the police department. One week you’ll be learning about the patrol division, what they do, why they do what they do, how they do what they do, maybe even be involved in some scenarios. Another week you’ll be talking to the investigators and they’ll explain what happens after a responding officer takes a report. How do investigators work cases? How do they use different tools the public might not know about to solve the cases?”
The sessions will also include a look at the Special Response Team, K-9 operations, and the dispatch/911 function.
“Most people don’t realize the critical role dispatch plays because they’re out of sight, out of mind,” Castaneda said. “Nobody ever thinks about them. Nobody sees them.”
Participants must be residents of the city of Ruston and successfully pass a background check.
Applications are available at the Ruston Police Department and must be returned by August 31. Space is limited. “Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting opportunity to connect with your police department,” a post on RPD’s Facebook page touts.
“It’ll be neat for the community to get a different perspective. They will be able to ask questions and learn how the police department works,” Castaneda said.
Watson said the command staff is still considering the logistics of offering ridealongs with patrol officers as part of this first academy session.
