The Kirkland Police Department invites Kirkland residents to participate in this year’s Citizens Academy.

“We’re excited to offer the Citizens Academy again this year,” said Neighborhood Resource Officer Deana Lansing. “It’s a unique opportunity for residents to glimpse behind the scenes of their Police Department.”

The Citizens Academy is an eight-week program designed to give Kirkland residents a working knowledge of the Kirkland Police Department. The academy will run every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., from Sept. 19, through Nov. 7. The deadline to apply is Sept. 5.

“Our aim is to cultivate good relationships between our residents and the uniformed women and men who serve them,” Lansing said. “If someone finishes the academy with a better understanding of police functions and policies, how we make decisions and what an officer experiences on a day to day basis, then it will have been a success.”

The comprehensive instruction focuses on a specific topic each week, such as: patrol officer training, investigations, K9, Special Response Team, use of force issues and firearms. The instruction consists of lectures, scenarios and demonstrations and includes hands-on learning. Instruction will be led by officers and other personnel from the Kirkland Police Department, each of whom is an expert in their topic area.

For more information about the Citizens Academy please contact ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Officer Deana Lansing Kirkland Police Department at 425-587-3451 or dlansing@kirklandwa.gov or visit the Citizens Academy webpage.