Miami Student

Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Community

Oxford's annual program, Citizen's Police Academy, strives to bridge the gap between OPD and the Oxford community while giving insight into the inner workings of police department.

In an attempt to bridge the gap between police, the community and Miami University, the Oxford Police Department's Citizens Police Academy is starting up again this September.

The first session in the nine-week academy course will be held Sept. 17. According to Sgt. John Buchholz, the academy is held to better inform the community about the inner workings of the police department.

"The goal is not just to educate people about police work," Buchholz said. "It's for Oxford residents and Miami University students to get to know (OPD) officers on a more personal level. We want everyone to be more comfortable with how and why we do the things we do."

This is the eighth session of its kind that the OPD has held, but the first since 2004, Buchholz noted, because of a possible lack in enrollment and interest. He said it would be comprised of about 25 people on a first-come, first-serve basis of enrollment by Sept. 10.

According to Buchholz, OPD aims to enroll half Miami students and half Oxford residents.

Applications are available on the city's Web site, www.cityofoxford.org.

Classes range in content and location, according to Buchholz, to show participants all the different facets involved in police work. For example, there will be a session involving OPD's Special Response Team (SRT) at the Izaak Walton Lodge, during which time students will spend the class learning about firearm safety and participate in using firearms on a shooting range.

Another class will demonstrate the station's K-9 unit with exhibitions of drug sniffs and tracking by OPD's police dogs.

Officer Ryan Sikora handles OPD's bloodhound Scarlet and said his unit will keep the demonstration short and sweet, despite the lengthy nature of police dog training.

"We will probably demonstrate SRT entry into a room and a small tracking with the bloodhound," Sikora said. "The class is great because it dispels myths and misconceptions to people about our force. It makes the general public less apprehensive about approaching (OPD officers)."

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