111th Pct. Puts Out Call for 14-Week Police Training Course

The 111th Precinct is signing up northeast Queens residents to take part in a training program that will help them better understand how the NYPD works in the community.

The Citizens' Police Academy, an estimated 14-week course, will begin during the first quarter of 2011, but an exact date has not yet been set.

"It's more fun than Disney World," said Bill Conway, the precinct's community affairs officer. "You'll learn things from a police perspective."

The program, which will be held at the city's police academy at 235 East 20th St. in Manhattan, will include workshops, role-playing and an exercise in which residents will determine whether or not to shoot while in the line of duty.

In another exercise, residents will be able to trade roles with police officers.

"Civilians will play the part of responding officers and the officers will play the victims or complainants," Conway said.

Attendees will learn how to respond to a situation with a mentally disturbed person and a domestic violence victim.

Classes will cover a variety of subjects, such as police science, law and strategies used by the city's Police Department.

"You get a whole semester worth of lessons," said resident Michael Feiner, who graduated the course and received a Citizens Police Academy card. "It's awesome. Citizens really learn how to deal with the police."

Attendees will undergo training that is similar to courses NYPD cadets take.  The program is offered to residents living within all 123 of the city's police precincts.

Those interested in attending should sign up as soon as possible to ensure they are accepted into the upcoming class, he said. 

The free classes, which will be held Monday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., are aimed at community residents ages 18 and above.

The 111th Precinct is located at 45-06 215th St. in Bayside. It covers Douglaston, Little Neck and Bayside.

For more information, call 718-279-5295.