The Jemison Police Department will hold an 8-week Citizens Police Academy beginning Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at Jemison City Hall.

Jemison Deputy Chief Marc McMinn said the Citizens Academy will be similar to previous years of classes that cover emergency calls, police discretion and ethics, narcotics, criminal investigations, evidence collection, mock crime scenes, traffic stops and K-9 demonstrations.

“This year we will be adding a firearms class,” McMinn said. “We will have the whole class meet on a Saturday at the firing range for firearm training. We will have a certified firearms instructor teach the class and go over things such as gun safety.”

The Citizens Academy is a tool that allows participants to meet once a week and become more informed about the inner workings of the police department.

This will be the fourth year for Jemison to host the Citizens Academy.

Although the class does not certify individuals to be a police officer, it allows them to interact with instructors who are officers with the Jemison Police Department and other surrounding agencies.

McMinn said the class is open to anyone 16 and older with each class lasting roughly two hours.

“If anyone has any questions or wants to find out more information they can contact me,” McMinn said.

Anyone interested in participating in the class is required to fill out an application available at Jemison City Hall.

McMinn said he also hopes to have the applications available for download on the city’s website, www.jemisonalabama.org.

For more information about the classes, contact McMinn by calling 688-4491 ext. 314 or email mmcminn@jemisonpd.org.