The Washington Township Police Department recently graduated 21 Logan County residents from the department’s very first five-week Citizens Academy.
During the academy, participants were able to learn what a day in the life of a Washington Township Police Officer was like and how their local criminal justice system operates.
Logan County Common Pleas Judge Kevin Braig explained how he operates the court and Bellefontaine Municipal Court Prosecutor Crystal Welsch explained how she represents the state and prosecutes misdemeanor offenses.
Logan County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers and corrections officers gave participants a tour of the jail and dispatch center. They also explained their very important role in the criminal justice system.
Washington Township Police Chief Michael Thompson showed the participants’ cruiser and body camera footage from different cases.
Chief Thompson also asked for their opinions and perspectives on how they would have handled the call for service.
Participants learned about police equipment, the K9 program, CPR, and the day-to-day responsibilities of the police department.
We would like to thank Dawson Construction and A&H Hose for their donations to help offset the costs of the academy.
Due to a large amount of interest, the Washington Township Police Department is exploring the idea of hosting a second citizens academy in the fall of 2023.
Check out the Washington Township Police Department Facebook page for updates.