La Verne Police Department Citizens’ Academy Gets Big Thumbs Up from Latest Graduates

June 11, 2011

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DON'T MESS WITH US: Sharpshooters Larry Carlson and Elaine Guerra

Of all the graduations in town this past week, one of the most intimate was the La Verne Police Department Citizens’ Academy graduation and ceremony on Thursday, June 9, at the University of La Verne Campus Center.

For 10 weeks, 16 La Verne citizens learned about La Verne Police Department procedures, policies, strategies and tactics that its officers employ to keep the city safe. The city enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the San Gabriel Valley.

“I can’t say enough about how thorough, how informative and how enjoyable classes were,” said Academy graduate Jonathan Blake. “I only wish they could make it part of the curriculum at the high school.”

Academy students observed a broad range of daily police activities, all designed to give them deeper insight into why police officers make the decisions they do. They also participated in traffic stops, firearms training, ride-alongs and many other hands-on activities.

Officer Jim Crook with Citizen's Academy graduate Matthew Wilder.

“I especially enjoyed learning about the ‘hides,’ where narcotics are stashed in a car,” said Academy graduate Matthew Wilder. “Handling an actual key of coke (cocaine) was just a mind-blowing experience. I haven’t been around drugs, so to hold $20,000 of drugs in your hands was kind of a rush.”

Students also got to hold a pound of crystal methamphetamine and a key of black tar heroin, as well. The contraband was evidence seized from previous drug busts by the LVPD.

“The one thing I’m going to take away from this is how professional all of the officers and instructors were,” Wilder added. “You could tell they really enjoyed giving the class, talking to us and showing us what they do on a daily basis.”

By putting on the Citizens’ Academy, La Verne Chief Scott Pickwith and his staff hope that students will gain a greater appreciation of police work and possibly join the city’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Larry Carlson and Elaine Guerra received awards for their marksmanship and Roger Bennett and Wilder won first place for “Patrol Procedures with Command Presence.”

The Citizens’ Academy Class No. 21 comprised the following graduates: Roger Bennett, Jonathan Blake, Laura Brown, Larry Carlson, Maria Carlson, Gricel Gomez, Elaine Guerra, Mae Hernandez, Chris Klein, James Lawson, Sherry MacDonald, Russell Ring, Sally Sims, Dave Stitt, Eddie Vargis and Matthew Wilder.

If you’re interested in enrolling in the next Citizens’ Academy, please contact Carol Escobedo (cescobedo@lvpd.org), Police Services Coordinator. The next class is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2012.