29 Graduate from the Citizen Police Academy

• The following is a press release from Prince William County police. 

Twenty-nine men and women received certificates of graduation in recognition of their successful completion of the 29th session of the Prince William County Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy (CPA).

They are:

• Alan Alborn of Manassas
• William Hunt of Haymarket 
• John Bartleson of Manassas 
• Sara Bartleson of Manassas
• Linda Beard of Manassas 
• Barbara Bell of Woodbridge 
• Jacqueline Buckles of Manassas 
• Reber Chergosky of Woodbridge 
• Kim Cook of Bristow
• Hector Dittamo of Lake Ridge 
• Theresa Dittamo of Lake Ridge 
• Kathleen Drumheller of Dale City 
• Jeffrey Edmonds of Dale City 
• Jean Pierre Fortin of Manassas 
• Maria Hooper of Dale City
• Jane Bartleson of Manassas 
• Ellen Meir of Dale City
• Barbara Montgomery of Dale City 
• Nancy Neeper of Dale City
• Ralph Neeper of Dale City 
• Susan Oberg of Lake Ridge 
• Nancy Pitzer of Bristow 
• Kent Powell of Bristow 
• Carla Rendon of Manassas 
• Ilma Striker of Haymarket 
• Patricia Vance of Nokesville 
• David Whitman of Dale City
• Erma Wright of Nokesville 
• Michelle Wright of Nokesville

The citizen police academy allows the community an opportunity to learn about all aspects of police work and the Police Department, according to Officer Erika Hernandez, who coordinates the Citizen Police Academy at the Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy in Nokesville.

“We appreciate the men and women who take the time to attend this course,” said Chief Charlie T. Deane. “Graduates of the program are better-informed citizens who gain an understanding of the operation of the Police Department and a greater awareness and appreciation of the challenges and decisions faced by Prince William County police officers each day.”

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The multi-week training program meets one evening a week during the session and consists of classroom and hands-on instruction. The program enables dialogue between residents and officers and between members of neighboring communities.

Topics covered include virtually every aspect of police work including patrol, immigration enforcement, criminal investigations, narcotics enforcement, youth programs, recruitment and selection, training, administration, tactical operations, communications and crime-scene management. Students are also given to chance to ride a shift with a patrol officer, become familiarized with police equipment including firearms, and to tour police facilities.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2012 class. Applications are available on the Police Department’s website (www.pwcgov.org/police) under the “Citizen/Volunteer Center” topic.