Residents of Council Bluffs have a chance to participate in a Citizen’s Police Academy, this Spring. The academy is designed to give people who live or own a business in Council Bluffs the opportunity to learn what police work is like in their community. The classes cover everything from community-oriented policing to special weapons and tactics teams and are taught by Council Bluffs police officers. The first class was held in the spring of 1992 and officials say it was a huge success.

Classes will meet Thursday night’s from 6:30-to 9-p.m., for 12 weeks, and will be held at the Southwest Iowa Law Enforcement Training Facility. Last year, participants learning about their police department, first hand. Most of the classes are designed to be hands on experiences for the participants. Many people learn about police work through television and going through an experience such as the citizen police academy can be quite rewarding. Classes may be rearranged due to staffing, scheduling, or other circumstances.

Registrations for the Spring 2015 CPA are being taken now. Register for the CPA by filling out the form available on the Council Bluffs P-D’s Facebook page, and send it to: Officer Matt Brinkman, 227 South 6th St., Council Bluffs, IA 51501. If you have any questions please feel free to call Officer Brinkman at (712) 329-1825.