This past weekend culminated nine weeks where a group of citizens got to learn the inside operations of The Burbank Police Department.
The Community Academy is an outreach by the COPS Bureau and is designed to give individuals an opportunity to see how police officers work, as well as gain a better understanding of departmental operations. This course is designed to familiarize citizens with the department’s community policing philosophy, internal policies, and the guiding principles of law and ethical conduct governing the delivery of police services within our community.
This past Saturday the class gathered at the Burbank Police Firing Range. The departments Air Support Division landed one of their McDonald Douglas MD 520 Notar® Helicopters. The class was able to get a closeup look at the helicopter and listen to Pilot Jason Embelton talk about his roll as the pilot and sometimes observer. They asked questions and saw the Air Ship depart following the talk.
Next up was Burbank Police K-9 handler Joel Rodriguez and his K-9 partner Kimo. They gave a very exciting demonstration into how Burbank’s K-9 seek suspects, drugs and weapons. They were given a presentation of some of the training techniques with the assistance of fellow patrol officer Camron Mencuri wearing a fully protected bite suit.
The class gathered back in the Ranges training room and got to hear Range Master Dwayne Wolfer, who showed the class the weapon the officers use and some of the weapons the officers have come into contact with in the field.
Attendees must be at least 18 years of age and live or work in the City of Burbank. Graduates of the Community Academy are eligible to apply to become Burbank Police Department volunteers and assist police personnel in the station.
This Community Academy class was conducted by Officer Joshua Kendrick, with several officers in the different departments assisting.
