Chief Joseph Desmond is pleased to announce that the Wilmington Police Department is hosting a Citizen Police Academy on Monday evenings during the months of March and April. The 7 week program will give residents an opportunity to interact with Wilmington Police Officers and learn about policing in society today. The course, funded through a grant through the Cummings Foundation, will cover a variety of topics including an Wilmington PD Operations, Criminal Law, the Massachusetts Court System, Citizen CPR, Traffic Safety, Working as A Patrol Officer, Criminal Investigations, Drugs, and Police Officer Use of Force.
“After having our 2020 program cancelled due to the pandemic, we are excited to get our community based programs going again!” stated Chief Joseph Desmond, “This has been a popular program in past years and we look forward to teaching members of the community about what we do each and every day.”
The program, coordinated by Sergeant Matthew Stavro, will be taught entirely by Wilmington Police Officers. “The world has changed a lot over the last two years, and so has policing,” stated Stavro, “my favorite part of the program is giving residents a chance to talk with us one on one and answer any questions they may have about our Department.”
Potential candidates for the course must meet the following criteria:
• Minimum age of 21
• Live or Work in Wilmington (Wilmington residents will be given preference if class becomes full)
• No serious criminal history
• No open criminal cases
Questions regarding the program can be directed to Sergeant Stavro at mstavro@wpd.org or at 978-658-5071. Citizen Academy registration is available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/wilmington-police-department-29705300663.