GRANTS PASS – The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety will be conducting its 30th annual Citizen Public Safety Academy beginning Tuesday, Aug. 24. This 12-week academy is designed to educate the public about the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety and to involve citizens in an interactive opportunity to get to know department officers and firefighters on a more personal level.
The academy will provide instruction in department history, the hiring process, community policing, details of the police and fire departments, fire rescue, fire prevention, fire size-up and fire spread, criminal law, search and seizure, arrest procedures, ethics, community service officers, gang and youth related issues, extrication and airbag rescue systems, patrol procedures, traffic enforcement, firearms, pursuits, high-risk vehicle stops, defensive tactics, crime scene investigations, officer survival, crime prevention, drug and alcohol enforcement, dispatch, K-9 units, fire extinguishers, fire attack, emergency medical services, drones, crime scene processing, technical rescue, auxiliary volunteers, polygraph, hostage negotiations, and more.
Citizens interested in attending the academy should live in, work in, or be a current student within the City of Grants Pass. All interested citizens must complete an application, pass a criminal background check, agree to participate in at least nine of the 12 sessions, and be at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license.
Approximately 25 citizens will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 6.
Applications can be picked up at all Grants Pass Department of Public Safety locations, or may be completed online here.
Academy sessions will be held 6-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 24 through Nov. 2. Graduation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Four optional Saturday classes will be held Sept. 11, Oct. 2, Oct. 16, and Nov. 6, covering personal safety with hands-on training, fire rescue/attack, safe firearm handling and use, and emergency vehicle operations. Participants will have the option of using firearms and driving emergency vehicles.
Classes will be held at the Grants Pass Public Safety Center, Hillcrest Public Safety Station, or Parkway Public Safety Center. Dinner and beverages will be provided at each class.
For additional information, contact Sgt. Ken Frownfelter at (541)450-6245, or Kelly Busch at (541)450-6200.
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