Special to the
Opelika Observer

The City of Opelika Police Department is now accepting applications for the Citizen’s Police Academy. The Academy meets for eight consecutive Thursday nights beginning on April 2.  The final class will be May 21. 
The class size is limited to 20 participant, so officials encourage everyone to get their applications in as soon as possible. Interested applicants can contact Lt. Ben Blackburn at OPDjobs@opelika-al.gov and request an application. Please include “CPA” in the email subject line. Then, Blackburn will email the application to registrant to return upon completion. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 9. 
This unique and thought provoking eight-week course is aimed at adults from the ages of 18 and above. Its goal is to educate the public on the various aspects of police work within the City of Opelika – the various divisions, the training officers must go through, the dangers faced by Opelika’s force on a daily basis. Each week, participants have the opportunity to listen to officers from various divisions in the force relate their duties, the training and experience required for that particular division. Members are given handouts filled with information and statistics and they also get a hands-on experience to give them a feel for what it is like to wear a badge in Opelika.  
For more information, call Blackburn at 334-705-5258.