Criminal Justice Students Join Police for Community Training Academy

A group from the School of Criminal Justice is getting the special opportunity to take part in a police training program thanks to a partnership between the Davie Police Department and the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.

The group of 17 students, faculty and staff all signed up to partake in the Davie Police Department’s Community Police Academy. According to Davie police, the academy lasts 12 weeks and “features a series of informative presentations on a variety of topics that will teach you about the roles, responsibilities, and functions of the Davie Police Department.”

Among the activities include riding along with a patrol officer, participating in police-related scenarios, and getting instruction in weapons safety.

Upon completion, the attendees will also get a certificate and other apparel and accessories.

Associate Professor, and retired NYPD Lieutenant Dr. Grace Telesco, feels the academy is a great way to bolster police and community relations.

“Civilians come in with a notion of the police and what the police do, how the police should behave and how the police should interact with them. When they get immersed in the training that officers go through … they get to see the other side and it’s been very enlightening and very helpful to educate the community about what the police do.”

Telesco speaks from experience — she ran a similar program during her time with the NYPD, and she mentioned how it’s beneficial for police to also engage with members of the community.

“[Police officers] get to hear what community leaders are saying and really a relationship forms because 12 weeks of going there every Tuesday night, you get to know everybody, and now you’re breaking bread with these people. So, the police are understanding the community, maybe a little better, and the community understands the police a little bit.”

Telesco hopes to continue the collaboration with Davie police and have other students join in the future.

This group of attendees is set to graduate from the academy on Dec. 5.