Citizens academy offers inside look at UConn police department

Doreen Brown learned a few things about being a police officer this semester, including how hard it is to tell the difference between a bad guy and a good guy when patrolling darkened streets.

Brown was one of 20 people who signed up this semester for the Citizens Police Academy, a program offered each fall by the UConn Police Department to faculty, staff, students, and members of the community.

One of the activities involved a firearms training simulator. “It was like a video game, except that it was real tense,” says Brown, a Residential Life employee. “I was also surprised at how heavy a gun is. I really learned a lot.”

The class met once a week for three hours over a 12-week period to learn about the department. Topics included hiring and training procedures, crime scene forensics, narcotics and alcohol violations, use of force issues, and active shooter situations.

This semester’s program wraps up with a ‘graduation’ Nov. 19.

Gaining a new perspective
“Some people don’t like police officers, and we’ve changed some opinions,” says Capt. Craig Rich, who started the program five years ago. “The classes are a way for us to build relationships in a non-confrontational way. It makes us more approachable.”

Participants enjoyed the course.

“I was interested [in the program] because I was curious and wanted to feel more connected to campus,” says Stephanie Beron, who works in the dean’s office at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“I was surprised at the things that go on, the war stories the instructors talked about, and the level of expertise they have. It was never boring, that’s for sure.”

Brown got a new perspective on Halloween when she took up an offer to ride with an officer the night of Oct. 31. Joining a patrol officer for a night, from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m., is one of the experiences available to students in the class.

“The officer explained to me why he went where he did and when,” says Brown, “how he would approach a group of people. I saw quite a range of activity.”

Rich, who has been a UConn police officer for 18 years, got the idea for the academy during a training session at the FBI academy in Quantico, Va.

He says UConn was the first university in the country to offer the program, although a number of municipal departments offer a similar program. Since it began, he says, other universities have called for advice on setting up their own program.

“The goal is to interact on a normal basis with the general public. We tell them the first day that we want them to get to know us, and we want to get to know them, what matters to them, what they want us to focus on,” Rich says.