PEABODY — A truly eye-opening experience.
That’s what Peabody resident Jennifer O’Brien had to say about the Peabody Police Citizens Academy, a 10-week program that allows Peabody residents to get an insider’s view of what police officers, dispatchers, clerical staff and others who work within the department do every day.
O’Brien was one of 29 persons who completed the academy’s fall session and were officially recognized as “academy graduates” in a ceremony held at the former Banana Republic store at the North Shore Mall this week.
“For years I’ve seen it advertised and always thought maybe I’ll do that, and I am so glad I did,” O’Brien said. “It’s been very eye-opening, I mean I know being a police officer is a dangerous profession but I had no idea how dangerous it really is. Especially now with COVID, and the rise of domestic violence issues because people aren’t going out, so it’s very bad, so again, this entire experience for me has been very eye-opening.”
The program usually offers two sessions per year, but this year, the pandemic forced cancellation of the spring program. With the future of the fall program in doubt, that’s where North Shore Mall General Manager Mark Whiting stepped in.
“We have had a longstanding relationship obviously with the Peabody Police Department,” Whiting said. “With some of the current events that happened over the summer, we felt it was important to partner with the police to provide a setting where Peabody residents can come in and be better informed as to the complexity of policing and how sometimes the professional aspect of the job is blurred. We wanted to provide an opportunity to house the academy here so the residents can be better informed about what the police department is doing.”
The program covered a variety of topics including criminal investigations, State Police crime scene processing, crime prevention, community policing and motor vehicle stops, in which officers are used as role players.
“We do it at night to show how dangerous and unpredictable motor vehicle stops can be,” said Richards. “We want people to know that the main thing is to cooperate when they get stopped. People get nervous, I mean I feel the same way, but you have to stay calm, get past that and comply and that tends to take care of the situation.
“The overriding thing is you have to comply with the police. If you think the police are wrong, there is a forum for that, but you have to comply with the police. It’s not the time to resist. Fighting the police is not the answer.”
Other sessions include firearms, detectives, school resource officers, domestic violence
Added bonuses included a tour of the police station.
O’Brien, an accounts receivable clerk who has lived in Peabody for 13 years, said her favorite session — and also the most chilling — was the active shooter simulation.
“The first one that I did, I checked my heart rate, and it had gone up 30 points,” O’Brien said. “I was walking into a police station and there (were) active shooters in there so I was, like, this is what police officers go through and it was crazy. I have a completely different perspective now. I definitely have far more respect for police officers than I’ve ever had.”
Program point man, Captain Scott Richards, said this session’s class has been one of the best ever.
“They were fantastic, just fantastic,” he said, adding he was grateful to Whiting for providing a safe location to keep the program going.
“Mark has been fantastic offering us this space,” Richards said. “He offered us a few choices, and this one really fits our needs perfectly.”
Police Chief Tom Griffin agreed.
“Unfortunately this year, with all the social distancing restrictions already going on, thanks to Mark Whiting, we were able to have this huge space to run the program and spread everyone out so people could still participate.
“To be able to open up the police department to the public has been outstanding for us where the people can get a real sense of what police work is and what police officers do. They gained an understanding of why we operate the way we do so they can really understand what the police department is all about. With all that is going on in this country, this is important to the community. We are doing the best we can and are willing to listen to the community and take their feedback they want to give. We always strive to give the community what it needs and wants.”
