Anyone ever attended a Citizen Police Academy?

Matt Collins

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Most police departments offer a citizens police academy.

I am considering going through mine so I can see the inner workings.

Anyone here ever done that sort of thing?
 
Most police departments offer a citizens police academy.

I am considering going through mine so I can see the inner workings.

Anyone here ever done that sort of thing?

"Inner workings" - or public relations flackery? You decide ...

From the National Citizens Police Academy Association:
The role of Police has always been an interest to the average Citizen. The television media has capitalized upon this curiosity with shows such as "Cops,” “America’s Most Wanted” and “Stories of the Highway Patrol.” Each week, real police action is broadcast into the living rooms of millions of Americans. Numerous Police Agencies have also benefited from the curiosity that citizens have about the police.

These agencies have formed Citizen Police Academy programs that create an expansion of their community based efforts. These programs are intended to open the lines of communication between the Community and the Police Department. Generally, the relationship between the police and the citizen is one of “love/hate.”

To the Citizen, it may frequently appear that the police are not doing their job or are exceeding their boundaries. By allowing citizens a firsthand look at what rules, regulations and policies the police follow, some of the misunderstanding may be alleviated.

The objective of the Citizen Police Academy is not to train an individual to be a “Reserve Police Officer” but to produce informed citizens. The Citizens and Police Officers meet each other face to face in a neutral, friendly setting and each becomes a person to the other. In the past, citizens have simply seen a uniform, now they have an understanding about the person behind the badge.

Call me cynical, but somehow, when they say "informed citizens," I suspect they do NOT mean "critical citizens" ...
 
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In the past, citizens have simply seen a uniform, now they have an understanding about the person behind the badge

I do not care about the person behind the badge.

The badge is all I see, because, while wearing it, that indicates to me that this is a person who could kill me on the thinnest of pretenses, legally.

That's like asking me to "understand" the snake behind the rattle.
 
Most police departments offer a citizens police academy.

I am considering going through mine so I can see the inner workings.

Anyone here ever done that sort of thing?

Took a really good Handgun Safety course. The Instructors were great. They had 38 specials on loan and the ammunition for practice was cheap.
 
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id like to do it for the same reasons as matt, but i just cant be around most of the ones i know. to much attitude and bs. good luck matt. keep us posted.
 
Nothing wrong with infiltration and trojan horsing. Cops that know you around town may be less likely to bother you. I dont see any problem necessarily with developing relations with any armed gang, as long as you remember inside they are still an armed gang, and have them trust you more than you trust them.
 
I've been through it twice over the years! I'm about due again - it's been about 12 years since.
(A slight change in several areas covered - less shared these days, overall not too much of a change noticed.)

I never did a "ride-along" (available to any citizen, any shift, with or without attending these CPA classes).
In the 2nd CPA class, if I had it to do over again, I'd take a pass on seeing their sample of child porn.

Very informative. I highly recommend!*

*They will "check you out" first! Ran a "Lite" local/fbi background check on me, I guess.
It's a self-protecting family, and you are a guest so don't F' with them and show respect 'cause they can mess you up big time!
If there are any doubts, don't talk to police, don't sign up!

Please let me/us know how it goes for you.
 
I've been through it twice over the years! I'm about due again - it's been about 12 years since.
(A slight change in several areas covered - less shared these days, overall not too much of a change noticed.)

I never did a "ride-along" (available to any citizen, any shift, with or without attending these CPA classes).
In the 2nd CPA class, if I had it to do over again, I'd take a pass on seeing their sample of child porn.

Very informative. I highly recommend!*

*They will "check you out" first! Ran a "Lite" local/fbi background check on me, I guess.
It's a self-protecting family, and you are a guest so don't F' with them and show respect 'cause they can mess you up big time!
If there are any doubts, don't talk to police, don't sign up!

Please let me/us know how it goes for you.
Aside from everything else I want to ask about this post, they showed you child porn?

What would be the purpose of that? Can one not recognize or characterize child porn without being acclimated with it? I mean, it seems kind of disturbing to me and undoubtedly more so to the child. Can you attest to how widespread this is? What was the demeanor or tone of said viewing? No one objected? Or was no one told beforehand? If not, no one became offended after being surprisingly shown said child porn? There's a lot of variables here that I cannot begin to walk through. I'm very much hoping you are fabricating the entire incident or at the least, leaving something (I couldn't imagine what) out. What reason could there be to do that? Were they unknown children or documented cases of sex abuse? Unneeded and sickening in any case.

ETA: Not to mention illegal and in violation of the victims rights.
 
*They will "check you out" first! Ran a "Lite" local/fbi background check on me, I guess.
I have no problem filling out an application, but if it comes to DNA sample or fingerprints I will probably bow out.

It's a self-protecting family, and you are a guest so don't F' with them and show respect 'cause they can mess you up big time! If there are any doubts, don't talk to police, don't sign up!
Naw, I'm just going to learn. Not trying to start anything or create a debate. You learn more when you listen anyways...
 
What would be the purpose of that? ... Unneeded and sickening in any case.

Well, I easily handled seeing the bloody crime scene photos, fish-eaten week-old corps photos and name/ID-redacted coroners reports, etc.
We were warned beforehand... Like I said, I wished I had taken a pass on the local child-porn evidence example. Technically, maybe it was more like playboy kiddy-nude rather than "porn" but I regret having seen that image - that kids face... I bet it was still tame compared what teenagers routinely do themselves with their cellphone cameras today. Just take a pass on that one item is my sincere advice.

Lots of better CPA memories to dwell on: At the time of my first CPA experience, they also had a "teenage intro version" of CPA for young cop wannabe's. I had the fun experience of testing one of their own staff who passed and then subsequently failed (after drinking alcohol + 90 minutes) my own administration of a field sobriety test including the flashlight Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. They provided an opportunity to drive a damn patrol car round in their tight parking lot (no thanks). Fun, but they dropped a lot of that stuff for my 2nd CPA classes, "because of too many liability issues".

The CPA is a PR effort on their part, but it is a very good communication connection to make and it was very informative for me. There is some serious local crap going on - I had no idea. I asked a lot of good questions about keeping corruption out of their department, the symbiotic relationship between gangs / undercover police, I pointed out the leftover seeds still visible in the vacuum/evidence collection device as they were explaining chain-of-evidence and detailing its important "cleaning" procedure step, and asked about the recent rural unintended consequences statistics with the relatively new DARE program (elsewhere) they were so proud of locally, etc. They acted like they had never heard of any of that, and for the most part, seemed try to come up with straight answers. (Except in a few cases where it was obvious I'd hit on a nerve.) The 2nd time I attended, they were lowering the DARE program introduction grade level... I asked the same questions again... leap.cc was not around yet as far I knew at that time.

I did learn a whole lot. The selection process for new local police is the best opportunity to keep hot heads or idiots out - quite a tricky process there too. I was and still am respectful of the ideal, but I expressed sincere sadness at the reality and downward trends on both sides of the grey/blue line. Got a good taste of it all. Met the sniper... Learned that the sergeant's job is one that I'd absolutely run away from. I was also asked if I wanted to volunteer for the review board / pension board. I just said NO and ran away...

Since my last CPA class (pre 9/11/2001), I've seen an apparent national trend of more (unjustified) abuse of power by police. My local police are a tough bunch, but they do not have a formal traffic ticket quota and they seem to somehow be resisting the national slide to an abusive police state.
 
Aside from everything else I want to ask about this post, they showed you child porn?

What would be the purpose of that? Can one not recognize or characterize child porn without being acclimated with it? I mean, it seems kind of disturbing to me and undoubtedly more so to the child. Can you attest to how widespread this is? What was the demeanor or tone of said viewing? No one objected? Or was no one told beforehand? If not, no one became offended after being surprisingly shown said child porn? There's a lot of variables here that I cannot begin to walk through. I'm very much hoping you are fabricating the entire incident or at the least, leaving something (I couldn't imagine what) out. What reason could there be to do that? Were they unknown children or documented cases of sex abuse? Unneeded and sickening in any case.

ETA: Not to mention illegal and in violation of the victims rights.

Funny you should mention that...

A couple of things come to mind right off.

A - What a great blackmail set up. Talk about keeping somebody on the reservation.

B - Just what in the fuck is "Homeland Security Investigations"? Fuck me, there are so many cops hut hutting around anymore, I can't keep them all straight.

Update: Mount Pleasant Chief Arraigned on Child Porn Charge

Brian Fanelli was arrested at his Mahopac home Thursday morning and posted $50,000 bail in White Plains later that afternoon.

Posted by Alfred Branch (Editor) , January 24, 2014 at 07:59 AM

http://scarsdale.patch.com/groups/p...ief-arrested-for-child-porn-collection-report

Written by Michael Nocella

Update 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014: Mount Pleasant Police Chief Brian Fanelli posted $50,000 bail in federal court in White Plains Thursday afternoon after he was arrested in his Mahopac home at 11:30 a.m. for possession of child pornography, United States Attorney's Office officials said.

It was there that Fanelli told investigating federal agents his personal collection of child porn originated from researching material for sexual abuse school classes that he was teaching, a 10-page “United States of America v. Brian Fanelli” complaint detailed.

What started out as research soon turned into a recreational habit in which Fanelli used the material for "personal interest," according to the complaint.

Fanelli, 54, of Mahopac, is being charged with one count of possessing child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

Fanelli’s trial date has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith presided over Fanelli's initial appearance in the United States District Court Thursday, Jan. 23 and ordered him to "home detention with electronic monitoring." He is only allowed to leave his home for work, meetings and ordeals related to his upcoming trial, medical appointments and religious events. He is also not allowed to be near school grounds, and playgrounds.

Fanelli is additionally prohibited from having firearms, any type of pornography, and using the internet and a cell phone.

According to the complaint, the defendant was found with multiple pieces of child pornographic images and videos in his home—ranging from electronic images downloaded from the internet to videotapes, books and magazines.

Fanelli was arrested following an investigation from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, which began on Nov. 9, 2013.


“Police officers – and especially police executives – are understandably held to a higher standard of conduct than ordinary citizens,” HSI Special Agent-in-Charge James T. Hayes, Jr. said.

“The defendant’s alleged acquisition and viewing of sexually explicit images of children irrevocably breached the trust the public had in him. The widespread exploitation of children in the United States is nothing short of an epidemic that requires the coordinated focus of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the general public alike. HSI is committed to devoting the necessary resources to protect the children in our communities from those intent on victimizing them,” Hayes added.

From at least as early as October 2013, through in or about January 2014, Fanelli used a Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Program (“P2P Network”) to download more than 120 files containing images and videos believed to be child pornography and made those files available to other P2P Network users through his computer’s shared folder on the P2P Network program. Additionally, on three occasions, HSI agents acting in an undercover capacity and using the P2P Network, downloaded images and videos believed to contain child pornography from Fanelli’s computer files, according to the complaint.

After obtaining a search warrant, HSI agents searched Fanelli’s residence Thursday and located three computers. Fanelli voluntarily told the agents that he has taught sexual abuse awareness classes to elementary and middle school-age students for more than one year, and that approximately one year ago, he began viewing child pornography from his home using the P2P Network – at first as research for the classes he was teaching, but shortly thereafter for personal interest, according to the complaint.

The complaint details the graphic nature of the child pornography obtained, which included a video “depicting a female who is approximately 11-13 years old exposing her breasts and vagina to a webcam.”

“Given the allegations, this case is particularly disturbing and sad,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

“A senior law enforcement officer, sworn to uphold the law, stands accused of breaking the law. And it is the law designed to protect the youngest and most vulnerable of our population from vile exploitation,” she added.

Mount Pleasant Supervisor Joan Maybury was not immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon. When reached by phone today, the Mount Pleasant Police Department declined to comment.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
 
Place bets now: Psych evaluation, early retirement w/full police pension -or- dropped charges after thorough internal investigation?

Yea right, research... Might just be lying.

It's poison, he should have known better!

If the accusations prove to be true, "he irrevocably breached the trust the public had in him..."
 
What exactly is a citizen's police academy? Do all police academies or police departments offer them? Are they all the same, or can they vary significantly depending on state or department?

is Matt going undercover as Sweetchuck?

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I feel safer already... :)
Technically, in the movie Sweetchuck went to the regular police academy and became a regular cop.
 
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