The Paris Police Department is proud to announce the scheduling of the third class of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA). The program provides insight to the public on all aspects of the operations of the department. The CPA is ten weeks in length, meeting one night a week for 2 ½ to 3 hours of instruction. All classes are held at the police station, 2910 Clarksville St. Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley stated the CPA has already benefited citizens and the department alike. Chief Hundley remarked, “Since the first CPA, graduates formed the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. Alumni members volunteered for continued training and have been actively assisting the department in traffic control for parades, assisting in representing the department at public events and have started the Citizens on Patrol program. This program places trained volunteers in patrol cars who are involved in our 'street light patrol' and are preparing to begin vacation house checks and other extra patrol requests in the City." These new COP's have logged over 150 hours of volunteer work for the department in the first few months of existence. The first step in this program is participation in the CPA. The instructors for the academy are all members of the Paris Police Department who 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. There has been great interaction between the officers who teach the classes and the citizens who attend. The class will begin on Tuesday, October 12th and graduate on December 7th. Class size will be limited to 25 people, so only those truly interested in making a commitment to the class are asked to apply. Eight 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 and interests 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 and click on the police department page.