Citizen Police Academy Returns To The Shore [AUDIO]

Want to know how cops crack a case or what the inside of a jail cell looks like?

A 16th annual tradition comes back to Monmouth County in just a few weeks. It's their Citizen Police Academy and registration is currently underway.

The Citizen Police Academy is a free six week course designed to give you an overview of law enforcement services in the County. There will be plenty of speakers and presentations during the sessions which begin on Tuesday, October 16th. Undersheriff Ted Freeman has overseen the program for many years. He says "you'll essentially become a goodwill ambassador on behalf of the departments all for the safety and wellness of your community."

The program has proved to be very popular in the past with classes filling up each year. There are only 45 spots available for the 2012 course that runs from the 16th of October until the graduation on November 27th.

Freeman says "although graduates can't go around arresting people, they will know police operations inside and out and be able to take part in the VISCOMP volunteer program if they want to. Topics are very interesting. We break through a lot of barriers."

Some topics include the chain of command, a tour of the County Jail, CSI and how it's nothing like what you see on TV and how the Office of Emergency Management deals with issues that come up like natural or man made disasters.

Applications are due in by September 30th. Each course takes place at the Monmouth County Police Academy in Freehold. The 12 hour block of instruction will be held over six consecutive Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Applications are available to Monmouth County residents age eighteen or older who have no criminal record.

For more information on the program or to get an application, visit monmouthsheriff.org. You can also telephone Undersheriff Ted Freeman directly at 732-577-5748.