Eden Prairie Police, Citizens Academy

Eden Prairie Police

Citizens Academy

December 31st, 1996: Once a year the Eden Prairie Police conduct the Citizens Academy an educational experience on the disciplines of community policing offered to citizens and community leaders in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. My name is Vicki and this is my record of my experience as a participant in The Citizens Academy.

Roll call: The nine week evening program began with roll call and dinner. Introductions were made all around and the experience of a life time was underway.
Cruisers and traffic stops: The first class activity was conducted in the parking lot of the Eden Prairie City Center with all 15 students being instructed on how to perform traffic stops. Each student was provided the opportunity to drive a squad car and make a practice traffic stop.

911 Emergency Response: The next week the class learned about 911 dispatch and the emergency response unit. After the class was divided into four groups; victims, dispatch, emergency response unit, and police, we staged an emergency. I played the victim who had collapsed for some unknown reason. Two people come upon me and call 911. The 911 dispatch group send the police and emergency units to assess what is wrong with me. With a cut on my hand (fake blood) and unconscious, the police unit begins to assess my condition and try to stabilize things until the Emergency Response team arrives. We as students are trying to respond as quickly as possible while the teachers, the policemen, are reminding us of everything we need to watch.

Sobriety Testing: One of the most educational evenings was the night half of our group agreed to drink. The brave ones who volunteered, drank between 7 - 9 shots of alcohol within an hour and a half. I for one would have been sick. But it was a real lesson for those of us who didn't drink, because you could really see how impaired one becomes when their blood alcohol is .10 or better. Some of the drinkers couldn't remember their ABC's or touch their nose. And boy were they loud.

Surveillance/Juvenile Crime: The Eden Prairie Police staged a surveillance night. We were divided into five squad cars with policeman driving and set out to track down three teenage suspects somewhere in Eden Prairie. The five car were sent to different spots in Eden Prairie and when the suspects were located we all converged with insight of that location. It was up to us to follow the teenagers when the took off. The teens took us into Miller Park and back to the warehouse area off Technology Dr. The suspects were finally apprehended near the City Center and taken into custody. Where we questioned them and then released them. The whole experience got your adrenaline going.

Apogee/Use of Force: This class we learned about the use of force. Apogee is a piece of equipment which allows policemen to practice responses to different situations. The gave each of us a chance to try this. You are given a gun and a video image is projected on a screen. In my situation their were five teens fighting in the back ground when I as a policeman approach the situation. Two of the individuals start to come up to me and I have to try and stop them while one of the teens in the back ground is stabbing someone. The correct response would be to shoot at the teen with the knife and not panic and shoot one of the others. I shot at man with the knife but not very accurately. The other half of the night we learn how to batons and night sticks. The police challenged four of our group to try and subdue one police office who was resisting. The four in our group could not do it with the five minutes given. So the next time you think the police might be using to much force think twice, the individual my be resisting.

K9: Champ and Ranger the two Eden Prairie Police Dogs. Champ is soon to retire, but both are truly amazing creatures. The may be smarter than humans. They could find anything. Not to mention attack a suspect one moment and let kids pet them the next.
Special Entry: This was SWAT Team night. Divided into two groups we were trained and equipped to do a drug raid(staged). With helmets and gun belts we broke down a door and setoff a flash boom. The flash booms are designed to shock people and temporarily impair ones vision, but not hurt people. After breaking down the door our job was to get the suspects under control and separate the individuals.

Investigation: The last night of class we searched the place we raided for evidence; drug, drug paraphernalia and the like. Then with evidence in hand with we interview the suspects to see how much information we could get out of them. Not exactly like NYPD Blues, but extremely interesting. To be a good interviewer you have to be quick and very observant. Pickup the subtle messages the suspects putout by their behavior and posture.
Court: Had tour of Southdale Hennepin County Court House

Click on Images of Fall 1996 Citizens Academy:

Citizens Academy participants take a break.

Special thanks to my brother Scott and his business for providing the server space.

Comments:Vicki

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