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First Citizen Police Academy Graduates creditLakewood Police Department with the artfulblending of service, compassion and ethics to equalexcellence .1989 Graduates perspective Eight weeks ago, eleven citizens ofLakewood were asked to accept an invitationto participate in the First Citizen PoliceAcademy.Each of us responded to the invitationwith a hesitant, yes. Why not? We asked.Can we believe in something that we havenever seen before?We accepted the invitation withdiffering attitudes and perceptions - somewith a fear of the unknown, a curiosity,professional motivation and/or a thirst forknowledge to better ones self, our families andour community.These and many emotions were sharedwith family and friends who were patientlisteners.The Lakewood Police Departmentpresented us with the facts.Gradually these facts helped us todefine the emotions, define the reasons whywe said yes, and helped us cope with andinternalize this valuable educationalinformation.The facts were turned into experiences- the basis of all learning.Experiences directly relating to officersurvival, day to day patrol, specialenforcement, drugs, gangs, firearms, domesticviolence, loss of life and threat to life andproperty were realized.This group of citizens was willing tocontribute to understanding. They are now anInformed group.The carefully guided impact of the totaleducational experience produced the followingresult:The City of Lakewood PoliceDepartment - its outstanding leadershiQ. andits family of dedicated agents has replaced thelstcpa.ltrcommon words: acceptable, standard,needed, necessary and adequate with thesewords: eProgressiveProfessionalDedicatedProudThis opening of doors, in the truestsense, we believe, was for the healing ofoftentimes, unjustified and uncomplimentarydistance. The catalyst education.It is an open door to the future ofunderstanding and of public and privatepartnerships against crime.It is Progressive. It is no longera given, no longer an indispensablecondition, no longer a pre-requisite thatwe (the citizens) be police to enter thesedoors - that we be police tounderstand their stress, their motivation,their skill, their humor.It is no longer status quo thinas are not the same as they used tobe . Citizens and their families canbecome a part of the PRIDE and thePROFESSIONALISM that provides thisvaluable service to our community.It is with this, that we, thehonored Graduates of the First CitizenPolice Academy, recognize andcommend the dedication of yourprotection and education and credityou with the artful blending of service,compassion and ethics to equalexcellence .November 22, 1989

--- -------------------------,THE COLORADOJULY/AUGUST 1990p LieOfficial Publication of the Police Protective Association of ColoradoLAKEWOODPOLICE DEPARTMENTCitizen PoliceAcademy,1\: By Mary Kubeck"There's never a cop around whenyou need one!" How many times hasa police officer heard this old adagewhich seems to be the general consensus of people in any area of thecountry? Better yet, how can this preconceived notion be changed andhow can police departments attainthe support of residents of thecommunity?The Lakewood Police Departmenthas found that education has beenmost effective in gaining un ierstanding and support from the c,:;mmunity.Through implementation of the Citizen Police Academy, the LakewoodPolice Department offers its citizensnew insight into how policeagents perform their duties, as wellas how the department serves thecommunity.The Citizen Police Academy is anine-week program where citizensfrom the community are nominatedto attend a three-hour class one nighta week. Nominations are submittedby members of the police department, as well as past Citizen PoliceAcademy participants. Final selectionto attend the academy is made by thedepartment's command staff.Classes are taught by variouspolice personnel from the department. Each police agent develops hisown class curricu.lum addressing subjects such as basic law, parrol procedures, narcotics, vice, SWAT, K-9,and officer survival. Each academyparticipant also receives hands-ontrainj'1g in firearms, arrest control,and i· .ilding searches. Role playingis another important-and frequently humorous-component ofthe program.COLORADO POLICEMANThe Lakewood Citizen PoliceAcademy has had two graduatingclasses. Both classes have been agreat success in closing the gapbetween the community and thepolice department. At the Start ofeach academy class, participantsseemed somewhat skeptical of theprogram; however, as the classes progressed, each person became more atease with the other members of theacademy, the police agents, and thedepartment as a whole. No attemptswere made by the instructOl to swayclass members toward becomingpropolice but, as each class revealeddifferent aspects of policing not generally known to the public, a deeperDick Bower inspecting the gun used inlaser "est training.Cliff McNeill and Dick Bower conducting a building search with laservests.understanding and a greater bonddeveloped between the citizens andthe police department.A member of the first CitizenPolice Academy described his experiences in the academy, "It was excellent and r think everyone in theacademy feels the same way. I have asincere appreciation for the stresses ofpolice agents, their jobs, and the dedication of their efforts to protect us. Ireally respect the department. r don'tthink I'd be able to do it."By graduation night, participantsactually feel as if they are a part ofthe department, and the LakewoodPolice Department fosLers this feeling95

---------------------by encouraging graduares to participate in projects which will help integrate the police department into thecommunity.Lakewood Police Chief CharlesJohnston has been overwhelmed bythe positive response of this program.The graduates are extremely eager tohelp the police department in anyway they can. These graduates have abetter understanding of poltce department operations, thus enabling themto support the police departmentwhen under media or other publicscrutiny.The time has come wherein eachcommunity needs to involve itself inpolice matters. Future trends in policing are toward more intensive community involvement. Tne most effective police department will be theone with the greatest communitysupport. The Citizen Police Academyis a program that can and will sparkthe enthusiasm needed to achievecommunity involvement in developing solutions for the future betterment of society.Ordinary·Joes (andJanes) Learn theInside Story ThroughLakewood's Citizens'Police AcademyShe may look like your mother butshe totes a pistol at night.He may take your loan applicationby day but at night he's dusting forprints.And that woman who just sold you anew hou e1 Well, she's enffmg badguys at night - on Wednesdays anyway.These folks are examples of the 40some Lakewood resideots who havegraduated from Lakewood's Citizens'Police Academy. And, no, it's nothingat all like the crazy movie, "PoliceAcademy - Citizens On Patrol." On thecontrary. There's nothing funny aboutthe real-life experiences these peoplearc going through.The Academy, which celebrated itsfIrSt anniversruy last November, acceptsparticipants (La.kewood residents) bynomination. The purpose of the pr0gram is to educate influential membersof the community about what police personnel really do on a day-to-day basis.The City instituted the Academy inan effort te open up the organizationand help the public understand how itworks. "The general philosophy of thedepartment and the City is to run anopen and honest organization. We hopethis will increase understanding andgive citizens a fIrSt-hand glimpse ofhow and why we work the way we do,"said Police Chief Charles Johnston.The training touches nearly allphases of actual police training but onan aa;eleratcd and less detailed level.Participants experience fU'St-hand emergency calls such as one in which ayoung girl calI 4 the departmentscreaming hysterically and beggingpolice dispatchers for help while herfather was in the background killing hermother.RIcbud .r,ltn aDd em McNrilI-ro.llbo Munlclpll Cem.u for' bod fI1I1So'Cadel!lleam about illegal drugsthrough the sobering experience of holding thousands of dollars worth ofcocaine and hearing tales about the manwho was trying to sell it to areyoungsters.Cadets arc trained to shoot handgunand go through "shoot, don't shoot"scenarios where they make thedecisions.Participanls attend Academy classesonce a week for 9 weeks. By the timethey graduate they will have toured the911 emergency response center, riddenalong with street cops, witn-:ssed andproc sed a crime scene, dealt with the. press, seen pictures of child pornography schemes, played with rigged carnival games, haedled thousands of dollars of drugs, shot handguns, usedbatons and arrest teclmiques to takedown and haedcuff crooks, and scarched the Municipal Center, wearinglaser vests, to sleuth out the bad guys.And when it's allover, graduate ofthe Lakewood Police Academy classes,hopefully will have a bencr uodcrstanding of what went through a policeofficer's mind when confronted with adangerous situation.For more information on theacademy call Agent Mazy Kubeck, 9877353., .';"1., ·:1,,'. 1J . l i.": :.;, ,l i·:.1 -J.j :;

-looking at l000January 1990Volume 6, Issue 1& itizen 's Police Academy: A Graduate's Perspectivey Kathleen Caito -1989 GraduateThe following is an excerpttaken from a speech.elivered at the Citizen's Policecademy graduation on November2. The academy was conducted byhe Lakewood Police Departmentnd was very similar to a real policecademy. The purpose of theitizen's Police Academy is to build aetter understanding between'tizens and the police t. roughducation. Graduates do not qualifyo beGJme police agents, however.hey do gain an invaluablenderstanding of police work. Theollowing excerpt is taken from araduation speech delivered by classember Kathleen Caito.This fall, eleven citizens of Lakewoodvere asked to accept an invitation toarticipate in the first Citizen Policecademy.Each of us responded to the invitationlith a hesitant, yes. Why not? We asked.'an we believe in something that we haveever seen before?We accepted the invitation with differingattitudes and perceptions - some with afear of the unknown, a curiosity.professional motivation and/or a thirst forknowledge to better oneself, our familiesand our community.These and many emotions were sharedwith family and friends who were patientlisteners.Dick Bower. a gradua te ofthe academy. examines afirearm. The Lakewood Police Departmentpresented us with the facts.Gradually these facts helped us to (,etinethe emotions, the reasons ""fhy we said yes,and helped us cope with and intemalize thisvaluable educational information.The facts were turned into experiences- the basis of all learning.Experiences directly relating to officersurvival, day to day patrol, specialenforcement, drugs, gangs, firearms,domestic violence, loss of life and threat tolife and property were reatized.This group of citizens was willing tocontribute to understanding. It is now anInformed group.The carefully guided impact of the totaleducational experience produced thefollowing result:The City of Lakewood PoliceDepartment- its outstanding leadershipand its family of dedicated agents hasreplaced the common words: acceptable,standard, needed, necessary and adequatewith these words: Progressive ProfessionalII DedicatedII ProudThis opening of doors, in the truestsense, we believe, was for the healing ofoftentimes, unjustified and uncomplimentarydistance. The catalyst education./Iilj

tI 6 -November 10, 1989 - .Lakewood/Jef1eraon Sentinelalice Academy INothing funny aboutschool for citizensONIINMAN" oel StaH Writere mild-mannered motherserves on the PTA by day.:rack pistol shot by nighte watch salesman by daydusts for fingerprints att . the real estate agentay who handcuffs badby night The newspaperrtc!' by day who searchcsings by nighL Who are, people leading a double· 're all cadets in the Cityakewood's first Citizens''C Academy Class.len Lakewood Policef Charles Johnston askedJ, coerced - me into be'art of the first acader:JY· I had visions of theie, Police Aca."",:. . ·l :, l, .ar;:;.-.1,1:m:;· .ill'i-!t:,. la1-,W. rnn;tV . "mM' .:. !\" .orter Inman learns that"lting from the hip isjust for journalists.:Citizens On PatroL What fun,I thought, joining 11 other"inOuential" members of thecommunity in a lightheartedattempt to expel'ience whatreal police officers go throughon a day-to-day basis.The first clue that I was infor more than I bargained forcame when Johnston told theclass on the first day, "Youwill become closer to thesepeople than to any othergroup of people you've everbeen with. You will experience things together thatother people can't imagine."He was righL U's a soberingexperience to hear first-handa young girl screaming hysterically, begging police dispatchers fc r help while herfather kills her mother hearing her sobbing, "1 thinkhe's hanging her."It's a sobering experienceto see a police officer shotbefore your eyes (an enactment that cadets were note: pecti ng) and then beingresponsible for finding thecriminal, the weapon andprocessing the crime sceneIt's a sobering experienceto hold 100,000 worth of cocaine and think that someonewas out there trying to sell itto your kids.It's a sobering experienceto have a semi-automatIchandgun strapped to yourside and have to make an instnntaneous decision onwhether or not to shoot.The department institutedthe first Citizens' Police Lakewood Police Sgt. Steve White (left) shows Steve Burkholder and KathyCaito how to h ndle a semi-automatic pollee pistol.Academy in an eITort to openup the organization and helpthe public understand howthe department works."The general philosophy ofthe department and the city isto run an open and honestorganization. We hope thiswill increase understandingand give citizens a first-handglimpse on how and why 'wework the way we do," Johnston said.The Lakewood Police Department has undergone somecriticism over the past severalmonths. In once case. ittockman into custody fordrunken behavior. It waslater dlscove ed he had beenhaving a diabetic seizure.The purpose of this program, according to Johnston.hopefully is to turn several"influential" 'citizens -1nl9advocates for the department!.The "influential" citizens in course. the 12 of us will hav!the first cadet class are: toured the 911 emergency reRichard Bower, retired geol- sponse center, ridden alon!ogist; Stephen Burkholder, wi th street cops, wi tnesseesales representative for Se- and processed a crime sceneiko; Cathy Caito, mother and dealt with the press, see)community activist; Joseph pictures of child pornograph:Elias, manager of the Tally schemes, played with riggeeHo Restaurant; Susan Leach, carnival games, handlc(mother and organizer of an thousands of dollars in drugsanti-drug and alcohol parent shot semi-automatic handgroup at Green Mountain guns, used batons and arresHigh School; Cliff McNeill, techniques to take down anereal estate company owner/ handcuff crooks, anebroker; Fern Rossi, Federal searched city hall, wearin!Center employee; Win laser vests, to sleuth out theSchendel, life insurance bad guys.salesman; . Chris Taylor, copresident of the KendrickWhen it's all over, Nov. 22Lakes PTA; Ben Veldkamp of we'll stand side-by-side teVeldkamp Flowers; Jim West, receive our certificates. Anetelevision news reporter, and the next time a Lakewood co myself.has to shoot a crook, we '1"rrhere will be a lot of ac- have a little better understanding of what wen:.tion," the. c.hi:,f told me.through his mind before he; During the eight-week pulled the trigger.

//--;.o,.ftj- ;. ,,.) pract!ce buildIng search. SteveBurkholder, rIght,-a takewoodresident, was thesuspect. The'· " .lak'ewood Citizens'Pollee Academy - ,offers ,an opportunitY': for. residents to undergoa condensedversion of officertraining. Thegoal. Is to foster abetter. under standIng and ap,-prec)atlon fo rponce work.I:! ing'tim w.itltP9Iii :, /' :.- .By TONY PUGHR n Nows Statt Writert KEj'Academyoffers.2;ilPBEe' 'iiffi training' . for .cer was probably typical of appreciation· tir:{I1tlr.or- for the lawWO'OD:.-Steve Burkholders reacti6rl'tri'seein:.- . :'''I'd":aIlvaysJSts.!. ::che.:k . mv. speedometer," the:' 48-year-old . sales representative said. Bixt that's changed now. Sure, Burkholder!may still feel the need to relaxthat gas pedal. but he'lI probably be alittl& more congenial the next time thoseblue lights are flashing in his rear viewnillior. ;' . ('Yin'certainly not a junior policeman:'Burkholder said. "But I've got a lot ofempathy and understanding for them."Credit an eight-week crash course atthe Lakewood police academy for Burkholders, new-found sensitivity for themen.andwomen in blue,:He Wa! one of 11 Lakewood residentsselected to panicipate in the police department's Citizens Police Academy,Some of rus fellow classmates included a.retired geplogist. a real estate executive.a "!ife insurance salesman. a housewifeand a PTA president. For-'eight weeks. the participantsspent three hours every Wednesdaynight going through a condensed version Chris Taylor, left, poses as the officer respcffidi g'" to a domesotan officei's training. The goal of the tJc, dispute, while Sgt. Mary Wamsley poses as the victim, Resiprogram was to better acquaint resi- dents got a chance to use conflict resolution skins needed indents., Wlth what officers do, and more'rt''t t·importantly. why they do i t . ' , . ' ,', :: aln 51 ua 10 S.,,''''I .t\": . ';" '. :Lakewood Police Chief Charles John- '" .-. ',!slt w' ;stpn,said better informed residents can.,, . .;; ,- ,snare .tIieir.knowledge with others when evide ce collection, firearms practice that touched all as cts of an officer'shigh";proffie incidents· occur as well.as' and' other aspects of police work. She job. That included doiilg ride'alongs withprovide.information about how the de- said the course was an eye-opener andpolice, demonstrating conflict resolutionpartlnent can better serve the cotrnnuni-' . ·':one she'd recommend to others.,skills and showingtjie citizens the myriadty.':'r.:,.-;' '?{;:" "';-'" ":',':."1,:' "If was excellent and I think every- emotions and'decisions officers have to' 'm re the most Visible of any govern- .; body in the academy feels the same way. , face. often without the benefit of time:mentzlleivice: We're reviewed by the -, r'have a sincere appreciation for the"We are human. We feel emotion. WepuQjic and,the ?less. but most. people, "stresse3 of police-agents and their jobs, may not show it at. the time, but, thatd'! t.'j'Iin.dejstan why Y' do.what w ··7;:.,ahd: 6.dedication f eir efforts' tod sn't mean when'we get home atdo," ohnston saJd. "ThIs gives them an, . protectus . ·. .:!: ./" "'.;.'. rught, we don't feelJor the people'we 'o unity to understand somethirig , " 'Burkholcl",- agreea that the class enwere involved with; . Kubeck said.tliaYs·so easy to critiCize. So now when :. joyed the course. "We r ally wantedJohnston.Said the department is plancops do something wrong, they'll under- - more." r '.'" .'. . ning a sirnilarcourse in the spring, andst3n w1ly, fhat may ha\,e happened and if: .-- '''t reaDy respect "th 'n1 D t;tlI)lfflt.:.II;l· Ui;it;.Mw?utlon. people have expressedw d:o' :Something right they'll under- '0 aon't think I'd be able to 0 it:' . . 'irit rest'saf.it!!:! or . m·;;:.," " .' '-:'".'Stlirld'tllar.fSWell.N;' : ' . ""!-"""".;' 'lu",,-,po '. , 'NIiiiy,j. b3'ii(frr:1 il( ilIWe were q\ile alibat'1 lbul·lt'90 ;;«''e-:.Katb P,C;ULfil1" I!t(- 6fjU ere, 1" 'iIf q:;h'W ill };.H.!!atr.Y!I/j wel1.o Wc!1re JimlIllJllf\l!""tWij! ' a n d '.'Kii '!,;H fr m Jl!Nwile !fl6l'tie'!f!\!JouSed iii viCe me, ed tO ?ea We!I-ioundcd.edl! atioo;:.' tbe t·.:JoIIl Mln:mwllb'lIi!!/In'ld'''tl r.1iart 9.-. ,. . . . ;.:,:" ".: ·v. -!---

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as past Citizen Police Academy participants. Final selection to attend the academy is made by the department's command staff. Classes are taught by various police personnel from the department. Each police agent develops his/her own class curriculum addressing subjects such as basic law, patrol procedures, narcotics, vice, SlVAT, K-9, and .