I graduated yesterday from the Alexandria Community Police Academy, and I would strongly recommend this 10-week program which gives attendees an inside look at police operations. Why do I think this is so important? When I decided to sign up for the class, I had studied criminology in college. But I had no idea of the internal operations of our police force and what they face on the job every day to keep us safe.
This course goes a very long way to humanize the police. There were members of our class who had always been afraid of the police or who came from another city where the police force did not have a good name. Those people came away with a total change of heart because of the excellent force that Alexandria is fortunate to have.
These are men and women like us who have homes, families, and pets. They are not highly paid, but, nevertheless, put themselves in danger every day in the ongoing fight against criminal elements in our city. Some are on call 24 hours per day. Each officer who addressed our class and/or demonstrated his or her area of expertise was totally committed to the job.
The course includes a “ride along” in a police cruiser while the officer is on duty. And I can tell you that there are a lot of lawbreakers behind the wheels of cars who do not obey the law to pull over to the right and stop when they see or hear an emergency vehicle. I rode in a squad car speeding through the city en route to an accident, and it was terrifying to me — although not to the officer who was driving — how many cars did not get out of our way.
Among many things we learned was about the canine corps. What an exceptional group of trained canines and handlers. The work they do is pretty amazing, and those dogs are totally devoted to their handlers with whom they live fulltime.
This Alexandria Community Police Academy program is a total gamechanger. And for those who have not taken it, do it. You will not only learn a lot, you will come out with a much better appreciation for those who keep us safe.
Judith D. Baer
Alexandria