The Hamilton County Peace Officer’s Association will be hosting the 2020 Citizen’s Academy starting on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.

The HCPOA is made up of various officers from city, county and state agencies and will facilitate the program.

The classes will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday between Feb. 20 and April 16 in the basement meeting room at the Hamilton County Courthouse. A graduation will be held at the conclusion of the training session on May 10.

The Citizen’s Academy program is mean to help citizens better understands the resources and programs available to them, help them get to know the public safety officers in their community, teach them how to work together to most effectively deal with crime and social issues, and provide a better perspective of the law enforcement profession and help them understand the dynamics of the profession and issues facing officers.

Topics in the classes include Department of Transportation, Enforcement Division; collision investigation; OWI enforcement; crime scene investigation; jail vs. prison; victim impact; patrol operations and more.

The Citizen’s Academy is free to attend. Participants must be at least 18 years old, or 14 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Space in the class is limited and registration is required. Applications can be picked up at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office during regular business hours, or by emailing iowahcpoa@gmail.com. A criminal history and background check is required to attend.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Feb. 14.