The South County Precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department will sponsor a Citizens’ Police Academy at the Mehlville Neighborhood Policing Substa-tion, 3229 Lemay Ferry Road.

The classes will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on nine consecutive Wednesdays, be-ginning March 1.

In a news release, Chief of Police Jerry Lee stated, “The Citizens’ Police Academy creates the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the officers that serve and protect your community. Participants learn about what steps they can take to avoid becoming the victim of a crime and they get an inside look at how the county Po-lice Department operates.

“Instead of relying on television or Hollywood, graduates of these academies can gain personal knowledge and experience in how actual police officers patrol their beats, conduct traffic stops and investigate crime. Classes are instructed by law enforcement professionals in the fields of Homicide, Robbery, Burglary, Drug En-forcement, Emergency Management, Fraud and the Crime Lab,” he added.

Capt. Ken Cox, commander of the South County Precinct, added, “One of the main goals of the Citizens’ Police Academy is to achieve an understanding and cooperation between citizens and police. This close working relationship is vital to the success of law enforcement in our community. The Citizens’ Police Academy is an excellent tool in building this mutual trust and understanding.”

At the end of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion at a graduation ceremony. The Citizens’ Police Academy is free and open to all St. Louis County residents.

Advance registration is required and seating is limited. To obtain a registration form or other details, contact Neighbor-hood Policing Officer Ann Geen at (314) 615-0163.

Registration forms also can be picked up at the South County Precinct, 3031 Telegraph Road.