The Paris Police Department announced today that the 1st Citizens Police Academy Class is full. 25 citizens have been accepted into the program exceeding the expected enrollment of 20 for the class. Applications will still be accepted for the next class to be started in January of 2010. The Citizens Police Academy will be eight weeks in length, meeting one night a week for 2 ½ to 3 hours of instruction. The instructors are all members of the Paris Police Department, and they will provide instruction and information concerning a particular area of law enforcement. This is NOT a police officer candidate school, but a means by which the citizens of Paris can see firsthand how the department operates.
Class size will be limited to 20 people, so only those truly interested in making a commitment to the class are asked to apply. Seven class nights must be attended to successfully pass the Citizens Police Academy. A background check will be conducted on all applicants, and those with criminal backgrounds may not be accepted into this program. This will not be an open forum to discuss previous law enforcement contacts or grievances, but an opportunity for applicants to learn about the department and for the department to learn about the concerns of the applicants. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and class attire will be casual. For more information contact Officer Matt Birch at 903-737-4110. Applications are available at the Paris Police Department, 2910 Clarksville Street, or on the City’s website, www.paristexas.gov.