ROME — A dozen men and women graduated Wednesday evening from the Rome Police Department’s Citizens’ Police Academy, marking the program’s revival as a success, according to department officials.

The 11-week class met at the Justice Building on North James Street to teach ordinary citizens about the ins and outs of the Rome Police Department. The course featured both classroom instruction and some hands-on events, including a ride along with a police officer.

“It went well. We had a lot of positive feedback from the students,” said Lt. Sharon Rood, department spokesperson and one of the officers who ran the academy.

“They were very responsive to it.”

The Citizens’ Police Academy was open to all city residents with an interest in learning about the policies and procedures of the police department. They covered such topics as patrol operations, professional standards, crime scene investigations, juvenile aid, SWAT operations and the laws that dictate police policy and operations.

This was the first such class at the department in several years.

“It gave them a basic idea of what police do and what we go through,” Rood said.

The Academy’s graduation ceremony was held at the Rome Police Department Wednesday evening. Among the participants this year were two members of the Rome Common Council: Third Ward Councilor Kimberly Rogers and Council President Stephanie Viscelli. The pair addressed the class at Wednesday night’s Common Council meeting.

“It was very educational, very enlightening,” Rogers stated.

“It was a very good experience,” Viscelli echoed.

Lt. Rood said the department is considering holding another such class in the future.