City of Cape Girardeau offering Citizens Academy and Citizens Police Academy

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Two different programs offered in Cape Girardeau help citizens better understand city services.

The Citizens Academy connects participants with city officials, services, and ways to get more involved in the community.

The Citizens Police Adacemy is a free class that offers a personal insight into each division and lots of hands on experiences. In addition to the scheduled classes, a “ride-along” with patrol officers will be made available to those wishing to do so.

Sessions for the Citizens Academy take place twice yearly, typically starting in March and September and require about a two-hour time commitment each week for 6-8 weeks. Participants tour facilities, learn about governmental departments, and get the opportunity to ask questions and meet new neighbors.

“How our city is run, what all goes into it, and, um, and really get an interesting deep dive into the finances that power all of this, that happens on a weekly basis,” said Cape Mayor Stacy Kinder.

Mayor Kinder says that with Citizens Academy it opens participants’ eyes into just how many career opportunities there are within the city.

“They also learn a lot about the volunteer opportunities, our city has a lot of different advisory boards and committees that help support the departments,” said Mayor Kinder.

If participants want a deeper dive into the work of local law enforcement, the Citizens Police Academy is also available.

“There is a whole gamma of training they’ll get to experience,” said Cape Police Public Information Officer Bobby Newton of the Citizens Police Academy.

The Citizens Police Academy is a free class that offers a personal insight into each division and lots of hands-on experiences.

In addition to the nine-week Citizens Police Academy program, a “ride-along” with patrol officers will be made available to those wishing to do so.

“We want to try and be open and transparent with the community, and this is a great way for us to do that,” said Newton. “Because the community is, well, they need us just as much as we need them.”