Bedford Police Department Announces Citizen’s Police Academy

Submitted on behalf of the Bedford Police Department

Public Safety-BPDBedford Police Lt. James Graham is very pleased to announce that the Bedford Police Department will be holding a Citizen’s Police Academy this fall at the Bedford Police Station.

The academy will run for seven consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. beginning on Sept. 14. Officers will conduct training sessions for civilians, introducing them to the police department and showing everyone what police do on a daily basis to keep people safe.

The classes will include a tour of the station, an introduction to the selection and training of police officers by Chief Robert Bongiorno and a group discussion of modern policing in today’s society.  Other classes will include review of equipment, use of force, firearms safety and the department’s membership in the Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC).

There will be an introduction to laws and traffic by some of our best officers. These introductory classes will show the complexities involved in policing with regards to Constitutional rights, criminal and motor vehicle law, and the flow of traffic and how it impacts the community.

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A CPR and First Aid introduction will lead into the role of police officers as first responders and today’s growing non-criminal aspects on policing. This will include information about the use of Narcan for heroin overdoses use as well as some more serious medical aspects of the police role in society.

Other topics will include:

  • Community Policing
  • Problem Solving
  • Crime and Violence Prevention
  • Drug Abuse/Prevention/Treatment
  • Criminology and Theory (Police becoming the community/Sir Robert Peele)
  • The future of the Bedford Police Department (Discussion by Chief Bongiorno)
  • Active Shooter situations and citizen responses
  • Workplace violence

The program will also include hands on education in equipment and firearm safety as well as a ride-along with an officer on patrol.

“We want people to know who we are and what we do,” said Lt.Graham, who is leading the classes. “This Academy is a great tool for understanding each other in today’s policing and to be prepared to help make solutions together to make tomorrow a better place for all residents, visitors, commuters and all citizens. This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet the people who serve their community as police officers and this allows the police to meet the people they serve in a positive environment.”

If you are interested in attending the Bedford Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy, please go to the following link and complete an application: https://www.bedfordma.gov/police/webforms/citizen-police-academy-application

A background check will be conducted on all participants to ensure the safety for all involved. Participants may attend as many or as few weekly classes as their schedule permits.

“We are looking forward to meeting our residents and showing everyone who we are and not only what we do but why we do it,” Lt. Graham said.

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