Terri Shaver: Want to learn what it takes to be a Turlock police officer? Take the course

The Turlock police department offers annually a three-month class on Thursday evenings called Turlock Police Citizens Academy. Of the group who just took the course, all but one finished; it was fascinating and informative! Topics include police training, permits and regulations, how the call center works, optional police ride-alongs, visits to the shooting range, “Use of Force” and officer survival training and discussion of recent cases in the media. There are also classes in the criminal justice system, tours of the police department building and the Modesto jail, police patrol procedures, crime scene investigations, command vehicle and SWAT vehicle tours, hostage negotiations and much more. It was presented by various experts. All who took this course came away with new knowledge and more respect for those who put their lives on the line for us.

Thank you, TPD and Michelle Backeroff for creating this innovative, well-designed and comprehensive program to educate and inform our community.

This story was originally published November 28, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Terri Shaver: Want to learn what it takes to be a Turlock police officer? Take the course."