UTICA — Twelve area residents graduated from the Utica Citizens’ Police Academy Monday evening after having spent nine weeks learning the ins and outs of what goes on at the Utica Police Department.

This was the first Citizens’ Police Academy held in Utica since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and department officials said it was a success and they plan to hold another one at the end of this year.

“Our whole goal in this is to build bridges and develop relationships with the community,” said Utica Police spokesperson Lt. Michael Curley.

“We would like to thank and congratulate those who participated,” he said, with the hopes that the students will take what they learned back to their communities and peer groups.

The Utica Citizens’ Police Academy was hosted by Sgt. Jim Laurey and his training staff, who took the participants through both classroom and hands-on instruction into the finer details of a 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.

Curley said the class on the use of force was particularly popular with the students.

“They showed up, they asked a lot of questions, they were very excited about what they were learning,” Curley said of the attendees. The class was comprised of both men and women, young and old, with an eye toward a diverse group so that the department could reach different communities.

“We took great care to try to make it as diverse as possible,” Curley said.

The class graduation ceremony was held Monday evening. The Citizen’s Police Academy is largely informational and is not an actual class to become an active duty police officer, though Curley said it might start people down that path.

Curley said the department is planning another citizens’ academy for the end of 2023. The Rome Police Department is also holding a Citizens’ Police Academy.