Monday, March 21, 2016 - 9:54am
Members of the most recent Lemoore Police Department's Citizens' Academy.
Members of the most recent Lemoore Police Department's Citizens' Academy.
Photo contributed

Another 8-week class and another group of Lemoore’s citizens with a better understanding of the criminal justice system. That’s the case with the latest group of local residents who recently completed the demanding Citizens’ Academy Program.

The 19th Lemoore Police Department’s Citizens’ Academy class graduated on March 16. Community Services Officer Ray Fratus presented Certificates of Completion to the following members: Estaleen J. Dennison, Nicholas J. Francu, Jr., Pearl D. Hernandez, Imelda L. Hill, Victoria S. Hooker, Rosie E. Madrigal, Criston R. Miller, Myeisha F. Neal, Tommy D. Nix, Rosie M. Ochoa, Paul D. Reynolds, Austin N. Richards, Megan R. Sharp, and Eric P. Shaw.

The Citizens' Academy Program began in 1996 with the approval of a grant that helped the department establish the unique course in March, 1997. The first-ever class graduated on July 15, 1997.

The Citizens' Academy is an 8-week course, meeting one night per week for three hours. The Academy is designed to give members of the community a better understanding of the criminal justice system. Participants receive classroom training on a variety of criminal justice topics ranging from crime prevention to the judicial system. All members of the Citizens' Academy participated in a ride-along with a police officer which exposed them to their daily operational duties.