By Martin Couch
Often times it's hard to put yourself in someone elses' shoes, especially those of law enforcement officers.
Bryant Police Department Sergeant Jenceson Payte instructs a full class of Bryant residents at the Citizens Police Academy held this week at the Department on Roya Lane.[more]
"It's designed as a civilian program and not designed for them to do any law enforcement," Payte said. "We look at what goes on inside the police department. Who does what."
The Academy lasts eight weeks and meets Tuesday's at 6:30 p.m. for a two-hour session that includes a dinner break. Currently, the class is full for Payte.
"Each week, we cover a different subject or topic," Payte said. "The first week is an orientation on what it takes to be a police officer. The pre-employment screening process that it takes to work with a police agency is one of the things we examine. We go from basic training and FTO program to background checks. In the second half of the first night, we go over the command structure of the Bryant Police Department and cover some of its history."
Payte teaches police training in the 1800's and specifically the history of the department within the city.
"How the department has grown and its former police chiefs and their significant accomplishments," Payte said. "And how calls from the local area have increased. It's basically an overview of the department's infrastructure."
The students begin with a tour of the facility including the 911 call center, where they sit and watch the dispatcher at work.
The second week of training is the Use of Force night where the judge of the district court, Curtis Rickard, comes in and holds a question-and-answer session.
"He gives a brief summary of the district court and then answers any questions the students have," Payte said. "He goes over the laws, decisions, procedures and, basically, whatever the students want to do. They really enjoy his candor. He's an enjoyable person to speak with."
Also on the second night, the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney, Ken Cassidy, will give a brief overview of his office and what his role is in the justice system.
"They have to be prepared to answer any question that's thrown out at them," Payte said. "It's entertaining."
In the second half hour of the night, there is more student interaction with Payte's presentation.
"I like involving members of the profession who are directly involved with the process," Payte said. "It's important for citizens to see them and to interact with a judge and a prosecuting attorney. I go over the use of force and how it pertains to law enforcement and why. I give video examples of those who are refusing to submit to law enforcement officers. Then we discuss the use of force continuum, like acts and consequences. Again, it's not about teaching them a technique, we want to show them how to use the minimum amount of force required. Shooting is pretty serious and when is a police officer justified to do it and how to apply force are some of the topics. Then I go over the three branches of government and how it applies. The primary role of a police officer is to maintain order. Their rulebook is the United States Constitution in a nutshell."
The third night is traffic stops.
"This night is where we place students in a role as a police officer with a pistol with semi-munition in it and they get a firsthand experience of what it's like to face confrontation on a traffic stop," Payte said. "We pair them up into teams of two as a primary officer and a backup officer and let the students deal with it and get a look of what it's like. It's a very interactive night."
At the end of the night, the class watches four selected videos that show the grim reality of what happens to law enforcement officers.
"We want them to understand the process and realize what they encounter," Payte said. "They constantly have to be prepared to do a job that not too many other people want to do."
The fourth session is on Domestic Violence where students observe photos and videos of spousal abuse. Dale Ridge of the Arkansas State Crimes Children's Unit speaks to the class and, in the second half of the session, the instruction switches to child abuse.
"We talk about the victims in these situations," Payte said.
The fifth night of the Academy is CSI Night or as Payte says "CS-Lie Night".
"We educate them that we don't possess this type of equipment to do that kind of work and that it's all Hollywood," Payte said. "Later on, they get to dust for finger prints and use a static foot print remover."SWAT night is set up for the sixth week and is interactive with the students.
"There is little classroom work here, because we leave in a caravan to the SWAT training building in North Little Rock where our SWAT team really trains," Payte said. "That night, we bring in a SWAT team and have them paired in groups in the 'shoot house'. It's diverse. We have the capability to close doors and make new hallways and we put the bad guys on each side and the pair has to clear the house and try to locate the bad guy. They learn about purpose and mission through this special training."
The seventh week is Identity Theft and Internet Safety.
"We get an investigator from the State's attorney general's office to come in and speak for the first session on identity theft and the students really gain a lot from it," Payte said. "The second half we discuss Internet safety and this is very informative."
On the eighth week, Payte brings in Drika, the Bryant Police service dog.
"We start out with demonstrations, with deployments," Payte said. "It's a very controlled night with the dogs. There will be designated areas where they can clearly see evidence recovery, odor detection demonstration and patrol and force capture."
The students receive a certificate upon graduating the class in a ceremony format.
"We take photos and videos throughout training and show them all together," Payte said. "It's great fun and they are invited to bring their friends and family. The mayor comes in and gives a short speech to the class, too."
Payte says the police department really doesn't advertise for the Academy, instead the enrollment goes by word of mouth.
"It fills up every time once I tell them about it," he said. "We start in the fall usually after Labor Day."
For more information on the Academy, contact Payte at the Bryant Police Department.
