An eight-week program designed to give the public a working knowledge of the Avon Lake Police Department begins Sept. 14 and runs every Wednesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Each section of the course covers a separate area of department operations, from firearms to communications, patrol to computer forensics, and includes lectures, demonstrations and student participation. Officers from the department teach each segment of the program.

Lt. Duane Streator said the goal of the Community Police Academy is to provide information to the public and to increase the rapport between the citizens and the officers of the Avon Lake Police Academy.

“We held our first Community Police Academy in 2007. A few other departments in the area had done it successfully. So, we discussed it with Chief (Dave) Owad and with the city administration and decided to go ahead with it,” Streator said. “The response from the community has been very positive. The program gives us an opportunity to connect with the community on a positive basis.”

Streator said 15 to 20 people participate in each academy group. He added that he hopes the graduates of the academy will utilize the knowledge gained through the program to assist the police department in its goal of providing a safe community.

The academy is open to anyone over 21 years of age. Participants have to fill out an application and are subject to a background investigation. Classes are filled on a first-come basis. Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Applications can be picked up at the Avon Lake Police Department, or you can have an application sent to you by calling 440-930-4116.