Citizens academy expands scope

Focus grows to include role of community’s first-responders

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BROOKINGS – What has been a Brookings Police Department program is being replaced with a program that takes a broader look at law enforcement in the larger community. 

The 10-week Citizens Police Academy is being superseded by the 13-week Citizens First Responders Academy.

The new program, a joint effort sponsored by Brookings area law enforcement agencies, support agencies and first responders, was announced Tuesday afternoon when representatives of several of those agencies gathered at the Brookings Police Department.

The new academy, which will enroll 25 student-citizens in its first class, will kick off from 6:30-9:30 p.m. March 6 at the BPD. Following that, classes will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m on 12 consecutive Tuesdays at different locations throughout the city.

Patrolman Drew Garry, BPD spokesman, said the course, for citizens selected from the Brookings area, will be “looking to expand your knowledge base in the areas of law enforcement, to include: fire, emergency medical services and court services.”

He further described the program as “12 separate sessions, and it will run from everything that a law enforcement officer would have to do, including criminal procedures.

“We’ll go to the jail; we’ll go to the courthouse; we’ll talk about probation, parole, a lot of the skill sets that law enforcement officers have, as far as traffic, DUI, investigations, crash scenes, along with search and seizure, and the use of force.”

One of the classes will address EMS with the Brookings ambulance service; the Brookings Fire Department will also present a couple training courses.

Garry added that the plan is for the new academy to become an annual program, as was the former academy that the BPD ran for eight years.

 “Every department in Brookings will have an interest in the program,” Brookings Police Chief Dave Erickson said. That includes police, sheriff, fire, state’s attorney, highway patrol, court services, probation, parole, family services, and Brookings Health System via its ambulance service.   

“Our goal here is definitely a cooperative effort between all the agencies in this community,” the chief added. “Not just in law enforcement, but first responders in general. We recognize the importance of working together for the community to provide the best possible first responder service that we can. That’s why this has become the First Responders Academy.”

One strong supporter of programs that introduce citizens to law enforcement programs is South Dakota Highway Patrolman Josh Olson. 

“When I was in high school I participated in one of these programs, as a citizen, with the Missoula (Montana) Sheriff’s Department and the Missoula Police Department. It was just a great program,” Olson said. “It helped bridge that gap between the citizens and law enforcement. It really helped citizens see the challenges that law enforcement faces.”

“I want to thank the Brookings Police Department for implementing this program,” Olson added.

“Brookings is one of the safest cities in the nation. We do that with this team we have here: local law enforcement and also the relationship that we have with the citizens.”

More information about the new program and an application can be found online at https://cityofbrookings.org/index.aspx?NID=292, or stop by the department and pick up an application at 307 Third Ave.

Contact John Kubal at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.

Photo: On hand Tuesday afternoon at the Brookings Police Department to announce the new First Responders Academy were, from left: Jason Even, South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation; Dave Erickson, Brookings chief of police; Tim Heaton, chief, South Dakota State University Police Department; Marty Stanwick, Brookings County sheriff; Teree Nesvold, acting Brookings County state’s attorney; Mike Aman, Brookings County Court Services; Darrell Hartmann, Brookings fire chief; and Josh Olson, South Dakota Highway Patrol.