Quad Cities Police Citizen's Academy

My trip to Front Sight back in December 2006 exposed me to some incredible law enforcement officers. The one who stands out most in my mind was Eli, an LA cop - if I remember correctly - and one of the most patient people I've ever been around. (If I had been him working with me, I think I would have taken away my pistol and beat me with it a couple times.) :) Being around Eli and the others really moved my heart to understand more about what these guys and gals face on a daily basis.

This past Spring, when I went to our County Courthouse to visit the Sheriff's office for my Iowa permit/background check to buy and sell handguns, a brochure caught my eye. It was a simple brochure about a class that some of the local enforcement agencies had put together to give citizens a better feel for what they were dealing with in the community. The class was 27 hours long - 9 consecutive Thursdays @ 3 hours per session.

It was one of the most informative and enjoyable things I've ever participated in. I wanna take a few days and let you know what the classes each involved, and if you're in the Quad Cities on the east coast of Iowa or the northwest coast of Illinois, I hope it will encourage you to take the classes when they are offered next Fall. Today I'm just gonna do the first session:

Session #1 - The Class Overview/Introduction

This class introduced us to the purpose of the Citizens Academy and the various agencies that were sponsoring. Probably the most fascinating thing about this session was the number of agencies from either side of the River who are participating in this. It's definitely a testament to the spirit of unity within our area (with one notable exception - Davenport does not participate, but I understand they have their own version of the academy, and I plan to learn more about it, too).

The various chiefs from the area all talked briefly about their agencies, their personal role as chief, and about the community at large. I must say that I was impressed with their humility, but also their competency. These guys are good at what they do, and their hearts are in it for the good it does, not the compensation nor the kudos. They definitely take a lot of crap from people who don't understand how it all works, and I found myself feeling a deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to them for their work and their lives!