GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Police Department is realizing an unintended but welcome consequence of its Citizen Police Academy.
Twice over the last several years, program participants have decided to become employees of GRPD.
The Citizen Police Academy started in the late 1990s. At least one class of about 25 to 30 people takes the course each year; all the participants live or work in Grand Rapids.
Anita Elmer did it in 2017 and shortly thereafter got a job with GRPD. She now serves as a records clerk and assists the public at the department’s service windows in the main lobby.
“I really enjoy it,” Elmer told News 8 said of working for GRPD.
She said her experience in the academy helped her to better understand how police operate and inspired her to want to enlighten others about the work officers do.
“Know that they’re human and they want to be safe,” Elmer said. “They want to help you but they want to go home to their families, too.”
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