Thirteen citizens completed the Citizen Policy Academy training on April 3rd. The academy gives Wayland residents an opportunity to interact and learn about modern policing from members of the Wayland Police Department and partner agencies. Topics covered included Motor Vehicle Law, Constitutional/Criminal Law, Emergency Communications, Juvenile Issues and the law, investigations and other selected topics.
Participants attended six two-hour sessions. Lieutenant Mark Hebert and Detective Sargent Tyler Castagno organized the Academy but different members of the department taught each session. Smita Chirayath, one of the participants, said that she found the Academy very informative. In addition to classroom instruction, they watched movies, visited the 911 Call Center and learned to shoot guns at the Weston Rifle Club. Chirayath said, “more people need to go, it humanizes the police department. It is a good way for the police department to build relationships with the community.” She said that she learned about the legal system such as what is the difference between burglary, larceny and robbery. According to Chirayth, visiting the Weston Rifle Club and shooting a gun was one of the most interesting classes. She said that each participant was given an opportunity to shoot a gun. She was surprised by the kickback when she pulled the trigger. She said after attending the class she had no interest in buying a gun and she would never feel confident using a gun even in a home robbery.
Police Chief Ed Burman said that the police department will be holding a Summer Youth Academy in August. The course sign up was filled in a week.
