By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

The Jemison Police Department will start its Citizen Academy on March 7.

For those who have wondered what police officers do on a daily basis, this free program offers a unique opportunity to gain understanding through hands-on experience.

Assistant Chief Marc McMinn will head the program, which includes mock crime scenes, mock trials and firearms training. There will also be tours of the jail, an opportunity for a ride along and a tour of the 911-dispatch center.

“It gives the public an understanding of law enforcement,” McMinn said. “They get to know everything that law enforcement goes through.”

The program is free and open to the public. Ages 16 and up can participate.

McMinn tries to make the scenarios in the academy as realistic as possible by drawing from his 17 years of experience in law enforcement. This is his seventh year being involved in the program, which he said is very effective at enhancing the public’s understanding of police officers’ duties.

Citizen Academy is not an official training program for police officers, but it is enough to spark an interest in the career field for some citizens. According to McMinn, some who have gone through the program later began training for a career in law enforcement after realizing their interest in the line of work.

The Citizen Academy will meet eight times. The average length of the sessions is two hours, and classes will be held once a week. Some weeks classes will not be held. The final schedule will be made available for those interested.

For more information contact McMinn at 205-688-4491 ext. 314 or marc.mcminn@yahoo.com.