Sign up for Kent’s Community Police Academy

Registration is open for the fall 2015 Community Police Academy hosted by the Kent Police Department.

Classes are on Wednesday evenings, for 10 weeks starting Sept. 16, and ending on Nov. 18. (Please note the first session will be Thursday, Sept. 17 due to a scheduling conflict). The sessions are from 7 to 9 p.m.

There is one Saturday session on Oct. 17, which will include optional tours of the Kent Correctional Facility (city of Kent jail) and Valley Communications Center (911 facility).

After attending the first four classes, participants are also eligible for a ride-along with a Kent Police officer. Classes are at the Kent Police/Fire Training Center, 24611 116th Ave. SE. Applications are available at KentWA.gov/CommunityPoliceAcademy.

There is no cost for participating in the Community Police Academy. It is open to any adult 18 years or older that lives, works, or has an interest in the city of Kent and its police department. Space is limited and preregistration is required.

For security reasons all applicants must pass a background check. Persons with a felony conviction or recent misdemeanor conviction are not eligible to participate.

The academy is delivered in a series of classes that offer straightforward, candid information regarding daily and specialized operations of the police department, while defining the agency’s role in the community.

A wide range of law enforcement topics will be discussed to include an overview of law enforcement, recruiting/hiring for new employees, traffic enforcement, investigations, narcotics, gangs, community education, use of force, stress and chaplaincy and K-9 units.

For more information, contact John Pagel at jpagel@kentwa.gov or 253-856-5884.