Skip to main content

Citizen’s Police Academy

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?
Labels:

Comments

LuAnn said…
I took the one we had here. They didn't teach how to be cops. Instead, we learned what cops do and how citizens can be the extra set of eyes cops need to catch the bad guys. We learned a lot of interesting information, much of which I already knew because I've been a journalist for so many years. But I did learn a few new things. Each week, they brought in a different speaker from a different department. It really was informative. We had a good turn out, too, which I thought was very positive. If you really want to know what cops do, a citizen's academy is a good place to start.
Tue Apr 13, 01:11:00 AM 2010
Tales of Whimsy said…
Way cool. I had no idea. It makes me think of Castle (novelist shadows cop for upcoming book).
Tue Apr 13, 06:10:00 AM 2010
Linda said…
Ours was similar to LuAnn, but we were able to shoot the officers guns-a rifle and a glock. The rifle I was used to, the glock was nerve wracking. We also got to do a ride-along. That's scary, as you are in the midst of whatever they come upon.
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.
Tue Apr 13, 07:58:00 AM 2010
Emileigh Latham said…
You are so brave! I have never heard of such a thing!
Tue Apr 13, 10:14:00 AM 2010
Geekwif said…
I've never heard of such a thing before, but it sounds really interesting! I'd love to read about your experience if you are able to do it.
Tue Apr 13, 01:24:00 PM 2010
Camy Tang said…
LuAnn and Linda, thanks so much! That sounds exactly what I'd like! I just want to understand the police department and how things work, I don't really want to learn how to be a cop. I'm very happy being a novelist! :)
Camy
Tue Apr 13, 07:32:00 PM 2010
Diane Marie Shaw said…
Sounds like an adventure waiting to happen. Hope you can get into one quickly.
Tue Apr 13, 08:09:00 PM 2010
Camy Tang said…
Thanks, Diane! I hope so too!
Wed Apr 14, 12:48:00 AM 2010
Crystal Laine said…
Camy, in Ohio a former cop named Lee Hofland (I'll have to check his name but he's a FB friend) has not only an academy for novelists but has a book with Writer's Digest specifically to help novelists with technical things that go along with suspense writing, etc.

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.
Wed Apr 14, 06:05:00 PM 2010
Camy Tang said…
Yeah, I'd like to go to his Writers Police Academy but can't swing it this year, and I have his book too.

That's pretty cool about your son! Sounds like Basic Training.
Wed Apr 14, 07:02:00 PM 2010
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Interview with Tamara Leigh

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.13.2006 Multi-published Tamara Leigh has shifted from Medieval romances to chick-lit! Her newest book is STEALING ADDA published by NavPress. It had been a long time since New York Times best-selling author -- and historical romance writer extraordinaire -- Adda Sinclaire had experienced more than a fictional dose of romance, but when publisher Nick Farnsworth walks into her life, everything changes. Life for Adda ironically reads more like a country song than a bodice-bursting, breathless affair. For starters, she has no actual romance in her life. That might have something to do with the fact that her husband -- correction-EX husband -- ran off with Stick Woman, whom everyone knew would never be more than a mid-list author anyway. To add insult to injury (and another verse to the country song), he not only took their dog but gave it to her. If this isn't enough, Adda's come down with a horrible case of writer's block and finds h
Read more

Last chance! Jane Austen sweepstakes

Last chance! Win a Library of 30 Historical Romance Novels + Jane Austen Swag Worth $250! This is a delightful surprise I've been eager to share! Join me and 30 extraordinary authors in an enchanting giveaway where we're gifting a vast array of historical romance novels to two fortunate winners! And the cherry on top: The Grand Prize winner will be treated to an exclusive Jane Austen swag pack, worth an impressive $250! You'll get the chance to win a copy of my book, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer, as well as novels from renowned authors like Laura Beers and Kasey Stockton. (Please be aware that not all the historical novels in this giveaway are Christian or sweet.) To enter, simply click the magical link below. Wishing you the best of luck and a journey filled with delightful reads! Join Our Giveaway
Post a Comment
Read more

In-N-Out from A DANGEROUS STAGE

Source: tumblr.com via Camy on Pinterest In-N-Out, one of my fav burger joints, makes an appearance in the first chapter of A Dangerous Stage . It's a chain on the West Coast and Hawaii, I'm not sure how far east they have restaurants. They don't freeze any of their food, it's all fresh, including the buns and the french fries. When you order, you can see them use this french fry hand-crank machine to make their fries, it's pretty cool. The specific restaurant in A Dangerous Stage doesn't exist at that location, but there's a couple of them near me and I go there way too often than is good for me, but it's oh-so-yummy!
2 comments
Read more

99c Squeaky Clean Christmas Romance sale

I’m participating in the 99c Squeaky Clean Christmas Romance sale. Check out all the sweet/clean romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! 99c Squeaky Clean Christmas Romance
Post a Comment
Read more

Sweet & Clean Christmas Romance sale

I’m participating in the Sweet & Clean Christmas Romance sale. Check out all the sweet/clean romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! Sweet & Clean Christmas Romance
Post a Comment
Read more

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures
10 comments
Read more

Clean Romance Deals

I’m participating in the Clean Romance Deals sale. Check out all the sweet/clean romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! Clean Romance Deals
Post a Comment
Read more

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th
18 comments
Read more

Year of the Dog serial novel

About Year of the Dog : A month or two ago, I remembered an old manuscript I had completed but which hadn’t sold. It was a contemporary romance meant for Zondervan, titled Year of the Dog . The book had gone into the pipeline and I even got another title ( Bad Dog ) and a cover for it, but eventually my editor at the time decided she didn’t want to publish it, for various reasons. She instead requested a romantic suspense, and so I cannibalized some of the characters from Year of the Dog and thrust them into the next book I wrote, which was Protection for Hire . Honestly, I didn’t take a lot from Year of the Dog to put in Protection for Hire , aside from character names and a few relationship ties. I was originally thinking I’d post Year of the Dog as-is on my blog as a free read, but then it occurred to me that I could revamp it into a romantic suspense and change the setting to Hawaii. It would work out perfectly as (yet another) prequel to the Warubozu series and introduc
Post a Comment
Read more

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci
2 comments
Read more