By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Ever dreamed of being a police officer or wondered what the job entails? The Presque Isle Police Department is offering a 10-week Police Academy designed to teach citizens what’s involved in being an officer.Police Chief Matt Irwin provided city councilors with an overview of the program during council’s meeting on March 3.
“The group will meet every Tuesday from 6-9 p.m., for a total of 10 nights. It will cover different topics on what we do at the PIPD. At the end of the period, those who’ve finished the course will be able to ride along with an officer if they want,” said Irwin.
Irwin said the program was offered before he joined the department and was considered a success.
“Meetings will take place at the Public Safety Building in the training room. We have about 20 people registered so far; it’s filling up fast,” said the chief.
Irwin also provided councilors with an update on the contest for redesigning the department’s uniform patch.
“No one can explain how we got the patch we have. It’s dull and doesn’t say much about the department or Presque Isle. Our goal is to get a patch that reflects Presque Isle,” said Irwin.
Irwin said the department currently has a contest underway that concludes at the end of this month.
“We’re asking local citizens to submit drawings to use in redesigning our patch. What we’ll do is offer an award of $300 from drug forfeiture money, this way there’s no taxpayer expense — let the drug dealers pay for it,” said Irwin.
He said so far they’ve gotten several entries, with some good ideas.
“Our goal is to submit entries for the May 4 First Friday Art Walk, maybe display them at the library. Citizens would have a month or so to judge their favorites, then we’d look at them in a more local way,” he said.
City Manager Jim Bennett said response has been great, especially from area youth.
“Of the entries we’ve gotten so far, about 75 percent are from youth in the community,” said Bennett. Irwin noted that high school art students are among those interested in the contest.
For more information, call 764-4476 or visit the PIPD’s Facebook page.
