MOSES LAKE — If you have ever wanted to learn how your local law enforcement agencies work, or how to bridge the gap and develop a working relationship between police and the community, then the upcoming Columbia Basin Multi-Agency Citizens' Academy might be worth attending.

The academy, which is sponsored by Moses Lake Police Department Chief Kevin Fuhr, Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones, Ephrata Police Department Chief Mike Warren and Quincy Police Department Chief Bob Heimbach, is planned for April 6-May 18. Classes will be held Thursday nights from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. and two Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the ATEC building at Big Bend Community College.

With a wide range of topics to be discussed by an array of different local instructors, attendees will be able to get a glimpse into the police process.

“This academy is for us to be able to interact with the citizens and the citizens to be able to learn what we do, how we do and why we do,” Fuhr explained.

Fuhr held similar academies on and off during his tenure as chief over in Rathdrum, Idaho. He said the Columbia Basin academy will be modeled after the programs he held in Idaho, which, according to Fuhr, were “incredibly” well received by those who attended.

“The comments we were getting from folks were just phenomenal. People were amazed with the situations we are put in, all that we have to do interacting with people, the technology we use. They were just amazed,” Fuhr remarked. “My personal feeling is that if we get 40 people to come to this; we have got 40 people that leave the class that are actually on our side.”

From Grant County Jail and Multi-Agency Communications Center (MACC) tours, to presentations on various topics ranging from the history of law enforcement, to drug investigations, active shooting training and disaster preparedness, and even presentations on the court system by Grant County Superior Court Judge David Estudillo and criminal prosecutions by Grant County Prosecutor Garth Dano, no topic will be overlooked.

“For what it takes for us to do this, and the benefit we are getting out of it, it is just a tremendous program,” Fuhr stated.

Space for the academy is limited to 40 people. Prospective applicants must: be at least 18, have no felony convictions, have no misdemeanor convictions for any crimes of violence, not be the subject of a pending criminal investigation and not be the respondent of a no-contact/protection order.

For more information about applying, contact one of the following agency representatives:

• MLPD Chief Kevin Fuhr: 509-764-3887.
• GCSO Sgt. Dean Hallatt: 509-754-2011.
• EPD Capt. Eric Koch: 509-754-4601.
• QPD Capt. Chris Lafferty: 509-787-4718.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.