Police Academy Slots Still Open

Slots are still open for residents to enroll in the second Kent Citizens Police Academy run by the .

Applications to attend are on the police department's website. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a Kent-area resident without any felony convictions, any misdemeanor convictions within the past two years or any pending misdemeanor charges.

The second, 12-week academy will start in February.

The first academy's goal was to give its members sort of a behind-the-scenes look at the police department and to foster relationships with residents in Kent's neighborhoods. Classes ranged from learning how police conduct traffic stops to explanations of the city's animal and parking laws.

Kent Patch blogger Roger Thurman wrote about his experiences in the class on his blog, which .