The Community Police Academy offered by the Chapel Hill Police Department is a valuable opportunity for students, and expanding similar opportunities would serve the community well.
The department has made clear that it wants this academy to be accessible to students, even changing the name from Citizen’s Police Academy to Community Police Academy to clarify its inclusive nature.
This is a good step, but more can be done to promote a more understanding relationship between police and students.
The Chapel Hill Police Department could hold a limited version or a preview of the Community Police Academy in the Pit or another visible on-campus location at the beginning of each semester.
Many of those that would find this academy most useful (i.e. freshmen) may be unable to make the trip to an off-campus location.
Simply put, the more productive interaction between police and students, the better.
At Stanford University, students can even receive course credit for completing their version of the academy, which is something that UNC would do well to look into.
The idea of cozying up to police isn’t always appealing to college students, but any way to incentivize this mutually beneficial experience would help more students take part.
This academy wouldn’t only provide an opportunity for students to get a better grasp on the inner workings of the police department — it would also provide a natural forum for dialogue, giving the department a welcome chance to hear input from the students that it helps to protect and serve.
