PHOTOS: Lowell Police Department Citizens Police Academy Gives Residents an Up-Close View of Law Enforcement

Several Lowell residents who participated in the 2025 Citizens Police Academy sit in the back of a Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Rescue Vehicle during a visit from the NEMLEC SWAT Team. The Citizens Police Academy, a multi-week program, gave participants an up close view of everything from traffic enforcement to SWAT operations. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department)

LOWELL — Superintendent Greg Hudon is pleased to report that 10 Lowell residents recently completed the Lowell Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy, getting an up-close view of law enforcement in the Mill City.

The Citizens Academy is a six-week course offered annually to city residents who have no criminal record. The course, which was held on Wednesday nights from April 9 to May 14, is meant to increase transparency and to help educate the public about the work of Lowell Police.

Participants met and interacted with officers from the Traffic Unit, School Resource Officers, Detectives, K9 Units, the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) SWAT Team, the Lowell Police Drone Unit, and more.

Topics covered include the history of the Lowell Police Department, criminal law, crime scene preservation, crime investigation, and more.

Melissa Giordano is a corrections officer from Lowell who wanted to learn more about policing as she considers a career in law enforcement. She said she enjoyed the chance to get to know police officers who range from rank and file to Superintendent Hudon.

“This experience has been so rewarding. I’ve learned so much,” said Giordano. “I wanted to get more knowledge about policing, and this has been great. I’ve gotten so much out of it.”

Jill Green signed up for the academy because she wanted to learn more about the work that police do, and how residents can assist police or give back to the community.

Green said she was surprised by the level of detail that was included in the academy and the amount of care that each officer who visited put into presentations and demonstrations.

Green said her favorite part of the academy was getting to use radar guns and getting to know officers on a more personal level.

“This gave me a different point of view,” said Green. “The officers and supervisors helped us to see their point of view, instead of just a civilian’s point of view.”

The Lowell Police Citizens Police Academy is offered annually, usually in the spring. It was overseen this year by Lt. Joseph Comtois.

As additional Citizen Police Academies are planned, additional information about them will be posted at: https://lowellpolice.org/citizens-police-academy/.