BCSO CPA, Near Half-way Point

The current session of BCSO’s Citizens Police Academy, which started on February 20th, 2007, will cross its half-way point this month, according to Sergeant David Marsh. The session, which is scheduled to meet 14 times between its start date, and its May 22^nd, 2007 graduation date, has completed just over half of its sessions.

Sergeant Marsh says this group, although small, has displayed a high degree of interest and participation, and includes participants whose occupations range from an Ophthalmologist, housewife, retired policeman, to banker.

Topics covered so far, according to Marsh, have included the History of Policing, the D.A.R.E and G.R.E.A.T programs, Crime Scene Investigations, and Field Operations. The session has yet to cover Narcotics, the Blue Ridge Regional Jail, Hunting and Fishing Evidence, which will be amongst the remaining topics. Not only do personnel from the Sheriff’s Office instruct, but the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and other community resources are included.

Now in its seventh year, the Academy “raises dramatically the public’s awareness of how law enforcement operates, and furnishes the Department with individuals who can opt to participate in events, and assist us by “riding along” and helping with traffic and crowd control, at special events,” according to Sheriff Mike Brown.

Sheriff Brown says, Sergeant Marsh, and the others who instruct and assist, have made this a top-notch program, and a valuable asset of the Department.