ROCKLAND  —  We all see cops in action on television and in the movies, but often times we do not get a lot of details about what they really experience on a daily basis. The specific aspects of conducting a crime scene investigation, restraining someone who is combative, collecting hands-on evidence and performing a routine traffic stop that leads to finding a vehicle full of drugs can peak our interest. There is also the criminal court process after a person is arrested. Steve McGarrett’s famous line in the original Hawaii Five-O series was “book ‘em Danno,” before he escorted the felon out the door, but the scene ended with that directive — and left us wondering what happened afterward.

These topics and more were part of the curriculum for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office first Citizens’ Police Academy, a nine-week program in which 10 citizens from a variety of backgrounds attended a three-hour weekly class. Knox County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lance Mitchell was the lead instructor for the academy and was supported by a variety of guest instructors, who educated the class about various police procedures and operations, as well as the court system.

The final class, held Nov. 25, concluded with Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison presenting diplomas to each student. Mitchell is now planning for the second academy, which will begin in March and he is optimistic that the class size will increase.

The academy is not designed for someone interested in becoming a police officer; it is for people who want to learn more about law enforcement by experiencing it first hand. The students in the inaugural class included firefighters, an electrician, someone who served in the National Guard and was hired as a dispatcher during the academy, a retired teacher and a mystery writer. The youngest student in the class was Trevor Carty, 15, a sophomore at Oceanside High School, who wants to become a police officer and plans to study criminal justice in college.

The only requirement to participate in the academy was that a student could not have any felony convictions.

“There has been a lot of negative publicity about law enforcement in the media and education can be effective in gaining understanding and support from the community,” said Knox County Chief Deputy Tim Carroll. Student Debra Andreasen agreed with Carroll and said she “took the course because with all the bad public relations with cops in the news, I wanted to know that we have excellent law enforcement in Knox County.”

Mitchell said that his main goal for the academy “was to open their doors to the public and show people what they get out of their Sheriff’s Department.”

The class curriculum included sessions about the use of force with restraint and hand-to-hand techniques, criminal law with representation from a member of the District Attorney’s office, a ride along in a patrol car, the components of an operating under the influence charge, traffic law and a tour of the Knox County Jail.

The final session was a practical exercise held outside behind the sheriff’s office. The students wore protective gear and carried paintball guns to experience simulated real-life scenarios that included a traffic stop with drugs in the car, a person threatening suicide and two men fighting, all with possible concealed weapons.

Some of the students experienced getting “shot” while trying to take control of their threats. As part of this learning experience, Mitchell explained preventive police tactics — like not having your back to one suspect while talking to another and to avoid getting in the middle of a fight. He also emphasized that officers do not always have the benefit of having a lot of information when responding to an incident since a dispatcher may only receive a few sketchy details from the caller, along with the reality that every single situation is different, and never the same.  

“This has been a great inaugural class,” said Carroll. “We received great feedback from the class members and often times they would not take their recommended breaks and kept on asking more questions. There was a lot of energy in the room.”

Mitchell will be leading the next academy in March and said that information and applications will be available online at knoxso.com/community/cpa or can be picked up at the Knox County’s Sheriff’s Office on Park Street.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com