The Cortez Police Department has announced its 2024 Police Citizens Academy, which will start Tuesday, March 5 at 6 p.m.

The academy will take place every Tuesday for six weeks and will be held at the Cortez Police Department at 608 N. Park St. in Cortez.

According to information provided by the police department, each session in the academy will provide an array of information that will include police policy, reports, crime scenes, arrest control, extreme risk protection order information, department training videos and training with less-lethal options including Tasers.

Every class period will consist of an hour of classroom time and an hour of hands-on training and what the department described as “fun, reality-based decision-making scenarios.”

“The Cortez Police Citizens Academy is a way for the residents to learn about Cortez City law enforcement and create a feeling of responsibility for their own community. The classes are built to be entertaining and interactive,” Cortez Police Department PIO Kelly Codner told The Journal. “It’s a chance for the diverse group of students to connect with officers and people they might not normally come in contact with in their daily lives.”

The course is free, but is already full and applicants are in the vetting process. The number of individuals who will be accepted to the course is 12.

“There is no cost. We are limiting this academy to 12 residents providing the opportunity for each person, each night, to complete the scenarios. We are looking for a diverse group of people,” the news release said.

Codner shared that the academy helps the community understand the work local law enforcement does on a daily basis while allowing the police to engage with the community.

“We hope that each class comes away with an understanding of how the department operates, the challenges and their commitment to the safety of our city and that it builds trust and confidence in the police. It’s a great chance for the Cortez Police team to engage and feel connected too,” Codner said.

The program will start March 5 and continue each Tuesday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for six weeks, including April 9.