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LEXINGTON, SC (WACH) - Select Lexington residents will have the unique opportunity to learn more about police operations through the Lexington Police Department's 2012 Citizen's Police Academy.

The Citizen's Police Academy, which began in 2004, aims to build a stronger relationship between the community and the department while educating the community about police operations. According to Cpl. Doug Lee, the academy is "a way for the community to be involved with the police department, and for the police department to be involved with the community."

The department plans to enroll twenty individuals for the upcoming session, and is currently seeking applicants for the nine week program that will begin Tuesday, March13.

The classes will be held at the Lexington Police Department’s training facility with some off site locations.

Course instruction is administered by police department personnel. The curriculum includes an overview of police operations and organization, introduction to community oriented policing, patrol functions, criminal investigations, narcotics and many other aspects of the department.

"We go from patrol level up to the Chief's office and teach how we work with the community. It's about building partnership," Lee said.

Qualified applicants must be twenty one years of age, a resident or business owner in the Town of Lexington and successfully submit to a background check to be completed by the department.

"Once you graduate, you are eligible to be a part of Volunteers in Policing Services, a national organization, where you get to work even closer with the department while assisting with different events throughout the year," Lee said. "It has been a very successful program so far."

For more information or to request an application, please contact Cpl. Doug Lee at (803) 359-6260 or at (803) 358-1504.