New program puts people in officers' shoes
Updated: January 8, 2013
CHAMPAIGN -- Police department hopes
"hands on" training can help build better community relationships.
It already got that started this year.
Programs like the "Walk As One" campaign helped officers reach out to
troubled areas.
The department also created a bullying prevention program. But a new program will help people feel like an officer. It's called the "Police 101 Adult Mock Police Academy".
"This is an opportunity for them
to ask questions and actually put themselves in the shoes of a police officer
as they enter dangerous situations," Rene Dunn, Champaign Police community
outreach. "It's easy for us to play sideline quarterbacks, but when we're
actually in the same shoes we may have a different perspective."
The program starts with weekly classes. Then adult students will get out in field. That includes riding along in a police car and even participating in traffic stops.
