The Ames Police Department is offering Ames residents a chance to experience a typical day in the life of a police officer.

The Citizen’s Police Academy begins Thursday and will be held once a week for 11 weeks.

Tom Shelton, community resource officer for the Ames Police Department, said the program includes the history of the department, learning how to shoot a handgun, understanding arrest procedures and crime scene investigations and various other aspects of a police officer’s job.

He said participants will also be able to go on a “ride-along” with a police officer for a shift.

Shelton said the department uses the academy to build a partnership between the police department and the citizens of Ames.

They also seek to provide an enhanced understanding of the function and operations of a modern police department.

He said citizens will get a firsthand view of the manner in which professional police services are delivered.

“[The Citizen’s Police Academy] is a better tool to market what [police officers] do with the community,” Shelton said. “We try to get rid of some of the misconceptions people have – that police officers just write tickets and arrest drunks.”

“We’re just regular people, with good personalities, that have to enforce the law,” Shelton said

Marty Lester, program director of the Ames Boys and Girls Club, said he enjoyed the academy.

“I would strongly recommend [the Citizen’s Police Academy] to anyone who has an interest in a career in police work or anyone who is critical of what police officers do,” he said.

“They have a pretty intense job.”

Lester said the Ames Boys and Girls Club is encouraging all of its staff to participate in the program.

“They went the whole nine yards on this,” he said. “I was really impressed.”

“[The academy] even made me want to switch jobs at one point.

Then I kind of had a reality check and decided I probably couldn’t handle the stress. I think I’m better off where I am.”

Classes are every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ames Police Department. Dinner is provided through donations from the Ames business community.

During the 11th week of the Citizen’s Police Academy is the graduation ceremony. All participants, past academy members and their family are invited to attend.

Participants will receive a plaque in recognition of successfully completing the program. The top shooters from the gun training, male and female, will receive a trophy.

To take part in the Citizen’s Police Academy one must be at least 19 years old, live or work in Ames and have no prior felony convictions or misdemeanor arrests within the last three years.

There are no physical requirements or cost involved.

Shelton said another academy will begin sometime in April. Interested people should fill out an application at the Ames Police Department.

They can also contact Shelton at 239-5133 for more information.