Briefly speaking: Students put on officer’s shoes

Shoot or don't shoot? You have a split second to make that decision.

Students who enroll in the citizen's police academy on campus may face that dilemma, if only in an exercise. Experiencing the firearms training simulator is one of the highlights of the academy run by the UC Davis Police Department, says Lt. Matt Carmichael.

"Being able to walk in the shoes of a police officer, if only for a split second, gives people a better understanding of what officers go through and the decisions they make daily in the field," Carmichael said.

The nine-week academy, offered in the winter and spring quarters, was established in 2006. The class is open to all UC Davis students, staff, faculty and citizens in the community who want to learn more about law enforcement. Students can receive two units of credit for full attendance.

Creating ambassadors

Carmichael said the Citizen's Academy is exciting, informative and never boring. Topics covered include arrest, search and seizure, basic forensic science, suspect apprehension, a K-9 demonstration, mock traffic stops and defensive tactics.

"This is a great opportunity for students to know more about what's going on when it comes to safety and security," Carmichael said. "Our big hope is that people who go through the academy become ambassadors for the police department because they have a better understanding of why officers do what they do."

According to Carmichael, a few students who completed the academy have gone on to apply for jobs in law enforcement. Benjamin McNulty, a senior in human development from Penn Valley, isn't quite sure that's the career path he will take, but he enrolled in the academy to get a better idea.

For the past two years, McNulty has worked for the police department as one of the Cal Aggie Hosts, part-time student employees who provide safety, security and hospitality services on campus. He said he has enjoyed working in the law enforcement environment and, so far, the academy has been a real eye-opener.

"People can often be quick to judge why officers do something, but they have a criteria to do things a certain way," McNulty said. "They really are there to help."

There are no special requirements for taking the course, but each candidate must undergo a background check. For more information or to apply, e-mail crimeprevention@ucdavis.edu. Applicants also can download an application from the police department's Web site.

The UC Davis Police Department is a state police agency that provides patrol, investigative and crime prevention services on the Davis campus and at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. It includes more than 50 sworn and 75 civilian employees.