Captain’s Log, Stardate 04.13.2010
I had never even heard of one until yesterday, then when I Googled it I saw one for Santa Clara California residents that seems pretty neat. I tried to find one for San Jose but no luck, so I emailed the San Jose Police Department to ask about one.
(I wonder why the SJPD website didn’t have a link to the Citizen’s Police Academy? I saw some news pages saying that San Jose did have one, so why isn’t it on the website?)
It’s kind of scary emailing a police department. And I felt a little silly saying I’m a novelist, but hopefully there aren’t SO many engineers in San Jose that the SJPD understands that us weird artistic types live here, too.
So now I’m waiting for them to email me back. I hope the timing is right so that I could take it this summer or something like that.
I think that taking it would help me write my romantic suspense novels better. Usually crime involves the police, right? And often cops or ex-cops are good heroes in romantic suspenses.
Do you have a Citizen’s Police Academy in your area? Anyone been to one of them? What’s it like?

(I wonder why the SJPD website didn’t have a link to the Citizen’s Police Academy? I saw some news pages saying that San Jose did have one, so why isn’t it on the website?)
It’s kind of scary emailing a police department. And I felt a little silly saying I’m a novelist, but hopefully there aren’t SO many engineers in San Jose that the SJPD understands that us weird artistic types live here, too.
So now I’m waiting for them to email me back. I hope the timing is right so that I could take it this summer or something like that.
I think that taking it would help me write my romantic suspense novels better. Usually crime involves the police, right? And often cops or ex-cops are good heroes in romantic suspenses.
Do you have a Citizen’s Police Academy in your area? Anyone been to one of them? What’s it like?
Comments
Then our Police put on an advanced seminar, and we learned more specific information on doing an investigation and additional depts. we didn't learn in the first one. I'd recommend it to everyone. It give you a sobering respect for what the Police to for us citizens everyday. 99% of the officers were very professional and approachable. There were a few that grated on me with their attitude. Go for it. You'll definitely be glad you did.
Camy
I met him at the Midwest Writers Workshop and he's just the best. I've not gone to the conference for writers but I've heard it's good.
However, I would bet most police academies for citizens where you identified yourself as a novelist would be happy to help you out. (And get it right!)
My son went to a career camp for state police when he was in HS as he was thinking of this as a career and while he had fun, it was pretty tough! (Ha) And he learned tons. The police dog waking them at 3 AM and running them out on the street to push police cars was quite the memory for him.
That's pretty cool about your son! Sounds like Basic Training.