Citizens First Responder Academy

Program Overview

The Brookings Police Department is proud to present a program that provides insight to the public on the responsibilities and operations of our department. On March 15, 2010, our first Citizens Police Academy began.

The Citizens First Responder Academy is an informative learning process that provides an opportunity for citizens to receive both classroom and field instruction regarding the various responsibilities facing our officers. Academy attendees are also made aware of the procedures and techniques used by officers in a variety of scenarios, together with the rationale and justification in support of those procedures or techniques. Fifteen officers from the Brookings Police Department conducted eight weeks of training.

Encouraging Citizen Participation

The Citizens First Responder Academy was designed to accomplish several goals. The most important goal was to establish lines of communications between the citizens of Brookings and their police department. Additionally, we wanted to develop an understanding of our role in the community. The objective of the academy is not to produce police officers from the graduates, but to make better informed citizens, with an accurate knowledge of the Police Department's responsibilities and functions. Our first academy was an overwhelming success.

Class Details

Class attendees receive information and instruction on such issues as use of force, defensive tactics, narcotics enforcement, special operations, criminal investigations, evidence gathering techniques, SWAT, K-9 demonstrations and much more. Participants had hands-on experiences with defense tactics, traffic stops, crime scenes, drug dog, and live firearms range. All of this is enhanced by their opportunity to ride along with an officer for a real life experience. Attendees will receive information and instruction from the Brookings Police Department, Brookings Sheriff's Office, University Police Department, Department of Criminal Investigations, Brookings Fire Department, Brookings Highway Patrol, Court Services, Probation, Parole and Brookings Emergency Medical Services. This program is not an accredited certification course. The first Citizens First Responder Academy graduated 17 attendees.

Program Mission

The mission of the Brookings Police Department's Citizen First Responder Academy is to educate the citizens of Brookings and gain their acceptance and cooperation through training and building partnerships.

Apply Today!

To learn more and apply for this free academy, click here. Enrollment is limited and we look forward to you participating in the Citizens First Responder Academy experience with us!