2024 Westport Citizens' Police Academy Set For September

Information from the Westport Police Department:

WESTPORT, CT — The Westport Police Department is proud to announce we will be offering a Citizens’ Police Academy starting on September 19th. Participants will gain a better understanding of the role of the police department in the community. This class provides participants and officers an opportunity to get to know each other and discuss issues that affect our community.

The academy can accommodate up to twenty-five community members who will participate in classes designed to take them through the various aspects of law enforcement. They will learn about the different divisions and specialized units of the department as well as how the department operates and its role in the criminal justice system. Participants will observe demonstrations and get hands-on experience with some of the equipment we use every day. Academy instructors include highly trained and experienced officers and attorneys from Stamford Court. In addition to the classes, participants will have the opportunity to experience a “ride-a-long” with an officer from the patrol division. They will also receive Stop the Bleed training.

Class participants will meet from 7:00pm- 9:30 pm for 8 weeks on the following dates:
Thursday, September 19th
Thursday, September 26th
Tuesday**, October 1st
Thursday, October 10th
Thursday, October 17th
Thursday, October 24th
Thursday, November 7th
Thursday, November 14th

The academy is open to Westport residents aged 21 and older. Applications can also be
picked up at police headquarters and are due by Tuesday, August 27 th . Applications can
be returned to police headquarters to the attention of Lieutenant Cabana or emailed to her
at jcabana@westportct.gov.

**Tuesday session; Thursday, Oct. 3, is the first day of Rosh Hashanah.

2024 Westport Citizens' Police Academy Syllabus:

Session 1 Thursday, September 19th 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tonight will include a welcome, introductions and “housekeeping” details for your time with us at the Westport Police Department. Chief of Police Fotios Koskinas will provide an overview of his role as Chief of Police and introduce participants to the department’s table of organization. Chief Koskinas will also introduce members of the Westport Police Department Command Staff who most closely assist him in the executive function. This first session also includes a tour of the department with a brief explanation of the work done in each place.

Tonight’s session will highlight the “backbone of the police department,” the Patrol Division. Lt. Matthew Gouveia will present the general responsibilities of a patrol officer and outline geographic patrol areas and boundaries. He will also advise about the responsibilities of the patrol supervisors.

Capt. David Wolf will join him to review the many legal provisions that guide a police officer’s actions when pulling over and questioning drivers in the course of their duties. Capt. Wolf will also overview the concept of “probable cause,” which establishes the threshold necessary for a police officer to effectuate an arrest. The process involved in processing a custodial arrest will also be covered.

Session 2 Thursday, September 26th 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tonight, participants will be split into two groups; one group performing motor vehicle stop practical exercises with Corporal Scinto and the other receiving Stop the Bleed training, before switching. In this training course, members will learn three quick techniques to help save a life before someone bleeds out: How to use your hands to apply pressure to a wound; how to pack a wound to control bleeding; how to correctly apply a tourniquet. These three techniques will empower you to assist in an emergency and potentially save a life.

Session 3 TUESDAY**, October 1st 7:00pm-9:30pm
This evening’s class will be devoted to how police officers are recruited, selected and trained as well of some of the specialty units that draw applicants to this department. Lt. Anthony Prezioso will discuss the recruitment and selection process including testing and background investigations. Sgt. Paz will review the field training process for new officers and discuss the in-service training models used to ensure the most up to date professional police service for the citizens of Westport.

Sgt. Paz along with Cpls. Fearon, Scinto and Loomer will also briefly discuss some of our specialized units such as the K-9 Division, Marine Unit, Dive Team and Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team. There will also be a K-9 demonstration.

Session 4 Thursday, October 10th 7:00pm-9:30pm
Our session will focus on criminal investigation. Led by Lt. Jillian Cabana, Commander of the Westport Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Youth Division, investigate the full spectrum of crimes that are committed in Westport and solvability factors. We will also discuss officers’ participation in various state and federal task forces.

During the second half of the evening, detectives will present financial crimes, common scams, and fraud.

Session 5 Thursday, October 17th 7:00pm-9:30pm
Lieutenant Cabana will discuss domestic violence including power/control, applicable definitions, safety planning, and resources available in our area.

In the second half of the night, Sergeant Howard Simpson, Det. Erin Shaw and Cpl. Brendan Fearon will discuss and demonstrate the signs officers look for in an intoxicated or impaired motorist. We will learn the procedure involved in performing an arrest for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and will discuss the ramifications of the testing or refusal and its connections with sanctions by the Department of Motor Vehicle.

Session 6 Thursday, October 24th 7:00pm-9:30pm
What happens when a person is arrested? This evening our class will be joined by members of the Office of the Assistant State’s Attorney and the Officer of the Public Defender.

October 31st- No class Halloween

Session 7 Thursday, November 7th 7:00pm-9:30pm
This session will focus on crime scene investigation. Investigators will explain crime scene processing, suspect detection and the “CSI effect.” We will learn what it means to document a crime scene, find trace evidence and catalogue its discovery. Participants will be able to have hands-on experience with fingerprinting and use of an alternate light source.

Session 8 Thursday, November 14th 7:00pm-9:30pm
Detective Delvecchio, Sgt. Sean Kelley and SRO Ed Wooldridge will discuss the delicate work of dealing with Westport’s youth. In addition to the investigative function they perform, you’ll get a glimpse of the working relationship they have with our school system and human services department. Together we will review the Juvenile Review Board, Multiple Disciplinary Team, and the Westport Youth Collaborative Cop Shops while learning of the many partnerships the division fosters and maintains to be effective.

This session is also a culmination ceremony of the last few weeks, a program evaluation, and suggestions for future Citizens’ Police Academy programs.

Optional: Ride-a-Long: Participants may schedule one 3-hour ride-a-long with a Westport patrol officer

Optional: Weapons Safety/Handling: Participants may also sign up for one 1-hour block of weapons handling/instruction with Staff Corporal Carr from 6:00pm-7:00pm on select nights of the academy or during two Saturday sessions. Only 3 people are permitted per each time slot.