Senior Citizens Police Academy

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

In order to increase government transparency, local municipalities have begun giving educational seminars to their constituents regarding government functions. In Hanover County, the Senior Citizens Police Academy (SCPA) is offered by the Sheriff’s Office and is designed to teach citizens of Hanover County about their law enforcement agency. Participants are not trained to be police officers, but instead are informed about each aspect of law enforcement. Each week, participants learn about the "Hows and Whys" of police work, focusing on traffic stops, crime scene investigations, functions of specialized units such as Narcotics, Youth Services, and Safe Streets, and many other interesting topics specific to seniors, such as identity theft, personal safety, and Medicare fraud. Each class is instructed by sworn members of the Sheriff's Office. The topics are presented in lecture format along with hands-on learning. During the academy, participants spend one morning touring the Sheriff's Office and taking a trip to the firing range, where they learn about the department's "special teams," including High Risk Entry (HRET), Traffic Safety Unit (TSU), and the K-9 team. A patrol ride-along is also offered. Completion of the SCPA allows participants to become eligible to participate in the department's Volunteer Program and Courtesy Patrol. Recently, the Sheriff's Office completed its 4th session, bringing the total of Academy graduates to 106.