Learn More About The Solon Police Academy

SOLON, OH — The Solon Police Department blog has discussed a variety of hot button issues, but one of the newest posts discusses the city's Citizens Police Academy. The nine-week class offers residents an inside look, and insight, into life as a police officer.

Each session is taught by an expert in a particular topic and lasts approximately three hours. The Solon Citizens Police Academy has had classes on K-9 officer capabilities, with the department dog present, how impaired drivers are recognized and more. There is also a day of training on how to fire a gun.

"I have been fortunate to lecture on police use-of-force, a hot-button topic that always generates comments and questions, and often highlights misunderstandings about how, when and why police resort to physical force or compliance tools," said Officer Jay Bender in the blog. "And I instruct on range day, which truly challenges me as a teacher because of the wide range of shooting experience we’ve seen in class members, literally going from “never shot a gun before” to “lifelong shooter.”

The goal of the academy is to create safer, more informed citizens that can spread their knowledge and insight to other community members. "I have referred to graduates as our water-cooler or coffee-shop ambassadors, spreading our message at a grassroots level, and that is more than enough return on the time invested," Bender wrote.

The Solon Citizens Police Academy is currently in the middle of its spring session. Details on the fall session will be announced on social media soon and Patch will share them with readers.

Read more on the Solon Police blog.

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