Starting Feb. 15, the Kent State Police Department will host its Police Experience Academy. Participants will learn about the department’s hiring process, training programs and scenarios. Those present will also have the opportunity to conduct a mock traffic stop.

“Every facet of the Police Experience Academy, we try to keep very interactive and engaging,” Community Resource Officer Tricia Knoles said. “We wanted to do something that reached out to our community.”

The event was first organized two years ago by Officer Knoles and Chief of Police Dean Tondiglia, with the hope that it would provide an opportunity for the community and the department to learn from each other.

Officer Knoles has described previous academies as very successful, filling every class for the past three semesters and amassing a lengthy waitlist at the end of their advertising period.

The academy is free and open to any Kent State faculty, staff or students and will run every Thursday night for five weeks from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Kent State Police Department in the Stockdale Building on Summit Street. The experience will culminate in a graduation ceremony.

David Williams is the safety reporter. Contact him at [email protected].