Chief Scott Rohmer of the Ashland Police Department would like to announce that the 4th Annual Ashland Police Department Citizens' Police Academy will be held from September 14, 2011 to November 16, 2011.

    The Ashland Police Department Citizens' Police Academy is a ten week program designed with blocks of instruction classes intended to give the public a working knowledge of the Ashland Police Department's personnel and policies. It consists of 10 classes held once a week on Wednesday nights at the Ashland Public Library 66 Front Street Ashland, MA from 6 pm to 9 pm for 3 hours per session. The instruction is comprehensive, covering a different area of the police department each week. Certified police officers, supervisors and personnel with particular expertise in a specific division conduct each instructional block. There may also be guest instructors in certain areas from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police and other police associated agencies.

    Topics covered will consist of communications, training, traffic, criminal investigations, K-9 demonstration, domestic violence, O.U.I. & Narcotic investigations, court procedures and firearms and their use. Emphasis is placed on every aspect of policing including the patrol division because the patrol division is the segment that comes in contact with the public most, and all other areas of the department function and support unit to assist patrol or continue a process originated by the patrol division. Participants will also get hands on experience and an open working knowledge of police operations.

    Who may attend? Any interested community minded person who has an interest in participating is encouraged to apply. Applicants cannot have a felony conviction.

    The Citizens Police Academy class is limited to 30 people. If you would like to be a part of this exciting approach to law enforcement, please download an application from our website Ashlandpd.org. Click on Citizens’ Police Academy download forms, Citizens Academy applications and return it completed to the Ashland Police Department attention Officer Ed Pomponio.

    Applications will also be available at the police front desk lobby area 24 hours a day. Police headquarters is located at 137 Main Street Downtown Ashland.  All applications must be completed and turned in prior to Friday September 9, 2011. Participants will be selected and contacted.