CRESTVIEW — Eleven residents hope to gain knowledge of law enforcement activities and safety procedures while attending the Crestview Police Department's first Citizens Safety Academy.
Police Chief Tony Taylor, speaking Monday at Warriors Hall auditorium, shared insight on the department’s structure, including personnel and financing.
Additionally, attendees toured the department building and learned about the Crestview PD’s chaplain program from department chaplain Mark Broadhead.
The goal is to make the department more transparent, which has been one of Taylor’s stated initiatives since he became Crestview’s police chief last fall.
"This gives citizens an opportunity to see the inner workings of the agency and see what their law enforcement agency in Crestview actually does," he said.
The police department limited the first academy’s class size to better interact with participants, organizers said.
The information was beneficial, attendees said.
Tom Schmoldt wanted to learn more about the department and how it plans to deal with Crestview's economic growth.
"I just want to know the workings of the department," he said. "Law enforcement is important to the growth of the community."
Glenn Goll said the academy would keep him active.
"(I did it) just to have something to do; I'm retired," he said.
Attendees at future sessions will interact with Crestview Fire Department officials and with other police officers throughout the 10-week course, organizers said.
Additionally, "they are going to be exposed to the entire judicial system from a judge to prosecution to defense," Taylor said.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview area residents attend first safety academy meeting