The Sioux Falls Police Department conducted two sessions of its Citizens' Police Academy this past year.

The spring class graduated in May while the fall class graduated in November. The spring class graduated 28 students; the fall class graduated 26 students. The Chief and Mayor Munson were present for the graduations and thanked the classes for their interest in the Police Department and its workings.

The Citizens' Police Academy is an eight-week program in which members of the community are introduced to the men and women of the Sioux Falls Police Department. The students are shown day-to-day activities that officers go through in the classroom. Students learn about the Patrol, Community Services, and Detective Divisions. Students are given instruction from members of each division covering topics ranging from K-9 Service Dogs, Traffic, Use of Force, Fraud, Identification Section, and Narcotics. Different sections of the training are interactive, giving students an enhanced opportunity to learn.

Once this training is completed, students are given the opportunity to complete an eight-hour ridealong with an officer on the street. The ride-along is an eye-opener for many students as they see the real day-to-day activities of officers on the department. The most common statements by students is that police work is definitely about more than writing tickets and appreciation for the patience shown by officers in the field.

The next session of Citizens' Police Academy will begin September 25, 2008  and ends November 13, 2008. The classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.