MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Police Department is holding their annual “Citizens' Academy” at the police station for any citizen looking to learn more about the department and how they operate.

The class meets on Thursday nights for three hours and lasts nine weeks. Throughout the course, many different guest speakers come in to teach the class about specific procedures, such as gathering evidence, traffic laws, and which gives citizens a more realistic look at what goes on behind the scenes.

“It’s basically designed for the citizens to learn what police do, cause i mean a lot of people the only contact they have with police is from TV shows or being stopped at a traffic stop or something," said Citizens Academy Coordinator Sergeant Scott Dawson.

Many of the citizens who take part in the program claim it allows them to feel safer by knowing exactly what happens when a crime is committed. It also gives personal interaction between the officers and citizens, which many citizens feel is important.

“It’s really really neat that they take the time and resources to provide a program like this for citizens," said Academy student Emily Lockwood.

The Police Department has been operating this academy for more than 15 years. By helping the citizens become more aware, the police department themselves also see benefits of running the program.

“They’re our best supporters, as far as trying to get the police department more equipment or trying to set up neighborhood watch programs, things that help us enforce the law and solve crimes,” said Dawson.