LEARNING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT: Last year’s participants in the Princeton Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy included Princeton Councilwoman Leticia Fraga, at far right. The group was immersed once a week, for eight weeks, in the methods and operations of the department.

By Anne Levin

At the beginning of the six-week Citizen’s Police Academy held by the Princeton Police Department last spring, one of the 16 participants — a man in his seventies — told Sgt. Dan Federico that he had never really trusted the police. By the end of the program, “I think we opened his eyes on a few things,” said Federico. “He actually referred three people for this year.”

Getting the Citizen’s Police Academy up and running was a goal of Chief Jon Bucchere when he took over the top spot in October 2022. The success of the inaugural program last spring has prompted the department to schedule a second series, which begins April 18 and runs on Thursday evenings through June 6. Spots are still available for the 20 slots. Participation is free.

“Having gone through it myself, I can say it’s a really top-notch program,” said Princeton Councilwoman Leticia Fraga during the governing body’s February 26 meeting. “It’s a wonderful experience. I would even go as far as saying it’s exciting. We may not get deputized. We didn’t get to keep a gun. But we learned how to use one.”

Learning how guns work is just one aspect of the program. The focus is on how the department operates, and how it responds to incidents in the community.

Topics include organizational structure, use of force, police response, arrest, search and seizure, motor vehicle stops, and officer safety. A ride-along program allows participants to observe patrol functions firsthand.

“It is our intention that the graduates of the Princeton Police Citizen’s Police Academy will gain an awareness and appreciation of the services we provide,” reads a description on the municipal website. “We also hope to collectively create an even stronger partnership between our police department and the community we serve.”

Federico said, “Everybody can go online and watch YouTube videos about how the police operate. But this gives a little more in-depth information, and shows why we do things a certain way.”

A motor vehicle stop is set up for the participants. “We go up to the bad guy, which is one of our officers,” Federico said. “In that situation, they get a gun that shoots a paintball. Not every situation results in use of force, but they get that decision-making ability. We acquired a virtual reality trainer and we put them through a scenario where they get the chance to do things our officers get to do.”

Last year, 16 people took part. Up to 20 can register for the upcoming sessions. “Anything more than that might be too much to handle,” said Federico. “It’s not just in the classroom, where we explain policies and procedures. They are also taking part in the hands-on side of things.”

Applicants must be at least 21, live in Princeton, submit a completed application, and pass a background check. Visit princetonnj.gov/1384/Citizens-Police-Academy for more information.

Last year’s participants ranged in age from late 20s to 70s. “It’s a wide range of people, from all different backgrounds,” Federico said. “It went very well and we’re looking forward to doing it again this year.”