Hartselle Police kick off inaugural Citizens Academy

By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
The city of Hartselle will soon have firsthand knowledge of how its police department operates.
The Hartselle Police Department Citizens Academy (HPDCA) Session 1 began Sept. 7 and will continue each Thursday, 6-9 p.m., for 10 weeks in the training center of Hartselle Utilities with 20 members of the community participating.
The event is sponsored by the Hartselle Enquirer, which will run a 10-week series of stories highlighting each class.
Interactive class topics include administration, patrol, criminal investigations, firearms, special response, K-9 and special operations, narcotics, self defense, DUI, and jail and dispatch. HPD staff members will serve as instructors under the direction of Lt. Robert Finn.
Capt. Tom Sparks said similar programs have been very successful throughout the country to help police departments introduce community policing philosophies.
Lena Wallace, Decatur Citizens Police Academy alumni and board member of the National Citizens Police Academy, also spoke to the class regarding HPDCA alumni volunteer opportunities with the Hartselle Police Department.