The Town of Farmville will hold a Citizens Police Academy March 7 – May 2, each Thursday night from 6-9 p.m. Class location will be announced at a later date.

The goal of the academy is to provide citizens with a general knowledge of the day to day operations of the Farmville Police Department, in an effort to enhance our abilities to better serve them and the community.

Academy sessions will provide information on topics including hiring and training, uniform operations, special operations, traffic enforcement and radar, criminal law, investigations, forensics and courtroom testimony. There will be both classroom lecture sessions and practical exercises. Citizens will also be encouraged to complete a ride along with a Farmville police officer during this academy.

The academy is open to citizens who reside in the Town of Farmville, Prince Edward County or Cumberland County, citizens who work in the Town of Farmville, or are a member of a civic organization in the Town of Farmville. Applicants will be screened for activities that may disqualify them from participating in the academy. This includes, but is not limited to, a criminal history check, a Division of Motor Vehicles check and a police contact check. Participants will be required to show a valid Virginia driver’s license or other photo identification at the first class session. This academy will be limited to 20 students.

Following successful attendance, the participant will receive a certificate of completion from the Chief of Police during a graduation ceremony.

Completed applications must be returned to the Farmville Police Department by Feb. 15.