Citizens Travel to Police Academy for Inside Look on the Force

The South County Precinct of the St. Louis County Police is hosting a free, .

The academy will focus on different departments and aspects of police service and will include a trip to the academy and a graduation ceremony. Each week, Patch will give a summary of the academy and the lessons provided.

For information on how to join the CPA, call the Fourth Precinct at 314-892-1510 or email Southcountyprecinct@stlouisco.com.

This week’s session at the  kicked off with a 12-car caravan equipped with three police escorts. The parade of cars was headed to the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy for a two-hour debriefing on how police officers are trained and prepared for duty.

Talking with a few of the 32 participants in Thursday night’s class, the repeating thought was — “Can’t just anyone become a police officer?” By the end of the night, the answer to that question was a clear "No."

For two hours, participants were guided through the academy. They listened to an officer describe the lecture classes and run through the litany of constitutional and traffic laws each officer-in-training must memorize. And each potential officer has only 26 weeks to learn it all.

But there’s more to the academy than just lectures and exams. Officers have to learn how to use a gun, work with a canine unit and pass strenuous physical training tests. They have to learn how to disarm suspects, protect their own gun and respond to crisis situations. Essentially, each officer has to learn how to withstand an enormous amount of stress.

But Thursday night, officers took a break from barking orders and screaming at recruits to swap a few jokes with the curious citizens who turned out to learn more about what police work entails.

The officers showed off one of their many helicopters, took the group through a simulated bank robbery and walked them through the academy’s gym and boxing ring.

The mood was relaxed and jovial, but the officers assured the group that recruits don’t enjoy as many laughs during their time at the academy.

Everything the recruits do is aimed at preparing them for what could possibly happen outside the academy doors.

“Some officers aren’t ready mentally for what they see in the field,” said Officer Brett Belcher with the South County Precinct.

From suicides to domestic abuse, these officers have to handle everything. They’re taught how to fight back if they are maced in the eyes, or how to tell a family on Christmas morning that a loved one passed away.

Not everyone makes it through the academy.

This session started with 39 recruits and already, halfway in to the 26-week course, they’re down to 27.

“The biggest challenge for the recruits,” Belcher said, “is figuring out if they can do the job.”

The enormity of that decision weighed on the 32 citizens who walked out of the academy that night and whispers of newfound respect for the police could be heard. This time, no one passed off police work as easy.

CPA Schedule:

Sept 22: Bomb and Arson Unit and Tactical Operations (SWAT Team)

Sept. 29: Field trip to the Police Academy

Oct 6: Crime Lab

Oct 13: Sex Offender and Crime Scene Units

Oct 20: Graduation