For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Reading Police Department Hosts Successful Citizens Police Academy

READING — Chief Mark D. Segalla is pleased to announce that the Reading Police Department concluded a successful Citizens Police Academy (CPA) this week — the first time the program has occurred in nine years.

The CPA ran from Sept. 14 to Nov. 9, with sessions held on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. Twenty residents took part in the free class.

As a part of the CPA, participants learned about firearms, detectives, investigations, emergency response, the role of police in schools, community policing, crime prevention, traffic safety, accident investigations, patrol procedures, O.U.I. procedures, domestic violence, dispatch procedures, S.W.A.T. and Regional Response Teams, and substance abuse.

“Thank you for this opportunity to learn about the Reading Police Department. All the instructors who made presentations were experts in their particular specialty, highly professional and so committed to the people of Reading,” said participant Alicia Gallagher. “We are very fortunate to be protected by this spectacular team.”

After graduating from the academy, participants were given the opportunity to schedule a ride along with a Reading police officer, and 19 attendees jumped at the chance. They will hit the road for patrol with an officer over the next six weeks.

“We had a very enthusiastic group of residents who were excited to learn about the inner workings of their police department,” Chief Segalla said. “I’m glad that so many of the participants are going to join an officer for a ride along so they can see the numerous aspects of community policing that we discussed during class in action.”

###