SOUTH COUNTY — Soledad and Gonzales police departments are once again collaborating for the second Community Police Academy on Monday, March 5, at 6 p.m.
The academy program runs for 13 weeks at the Gonzales police station on Fourth Street and is designed to provide participants with the working knowledge of local police departments’ function and operational procedures. It is open to anyone over age 14 with the application subject to review for parolees, persons on probation and so forth.
“Community members will learn about patrol strategies, criminal investigations, crime scenes, narcotics, officer safety issues, community policing and defensive tactics techniques,” said Soledad Sgt. Lionel Mungia.
Applications for the Community Police Academy are available for pick up at the Soledad Police Department, or contact Mungia at [email protected]. Gonzales Sgt. J. Mendoza can be contacted at 675-4227 or [email protected].
The Community Police Academy will also be available for Greenfield and King City residents, who will be meeting in King City.
The academy was started as a part of a grant to try to strengthen bonds between the community and the police force in King City, Greenfield, Soledad and Gonzales. The grant has helped the four local police departments reach out in other areas as well, such as Coffee with a Cop events, visiting schools and more.
For more information on the Community Police Academy in Greenfield and King City, contact Greenfield Police Officer Joe Dyels at [email protected] or King City Police Sgt. K. Bowen at [email protected].
