2008 Woodie Awards
Oxford will once again offer local police academy
Caroline Briggs
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Community
Yet Miami senior Jen Brizius-an off-campus student-was hesitant when asked if this program would improve any OPD-student relations.
"I feel that everybody around here who is apprehensive about approaching (OPD), it's because they've done something wrong, that they've been drinking or something," she said.
Brizius said she believed this program would only be truly useful for those interested in entering the police force.
When asked about which majors at Miami should look into the class, Buchholz responded that no student would be excluded.
"We are looking for a student with an open mind to all possibilities that are out there for a career," Buchholz said. "This is an overview of our department; we aren't teaching people to be cops."
Buchholz said that there have been students from various career interests who have taken the course in the past, including Secret Service, FBI and pre-law students. Overall, he said it's a fun and close look at the police force.
Graduates from the course are also welcome to join OPD's Citizens Observer Patrol where they are actively on patrol in a partially marked vehicle. However, Buchholz said students are not required to take on this task.
Based on their available schedule, past graduates have patrolled the streets of Oxford, calling OPD to a needed situation, or patrolling residences that have been vacated during one of the school's holiday breaks. Members also aid in traffic control during one of Oxford's many parades and city functions.
Buchholz said members of the Citizens Observer Patrol are asked for a minor four to six hours a month commitment.
Additional reporting contributed by Stacey Skotzko.
"I feel that everybody around here who is apprehensive about approaching (OPD), it's because they've done something wrong, that they've been drinking or something," she said.
Brizius said she believed this program would only be truly useful for those interested in entering the police force.
When asked about which majors at Miami should look into the class, Buchholz responded that no student would be excluded.
"We are looking for a student with an open mind to all possibilities that are out there for a career," Buchholz said. "This is an overview of our department; we aren't teaching people to be cops."
Buchholz said that there have been students from various career interests who have taken the course in the past, including Secret Service, FBI and pre-law students. Overall, he said it's a fun and close look at the police force.
Graduates from the course are also welcome to join OPD's Citizens Observer Patrol where they are actively on patrol in a partially marked vehicle. However, Buchholz said students are not required to take on this task.
Based on their available schedule, past graduates have patrolled the streets of Oxford, calling OPD to a needed situation, or patrolling residences that have been vacated during one of the school's holiday breaks. Members also aid in traffic control during one of Oxford's many parades and city functions.
Buchholz said members of the Citizens Observer Patrol are asked for a minor four to six hours a month commitment.
Additional reporting contributed by Stacey Skotzko.
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