Reading Police Department Completes Successful Citizens Police Academy

Reading, MA — Chief Mark D. Segalla is pleased to announce that the Reading Police Department hosted a successful Citizens Police Academy (CPA), which concluded this week.

On Tuesday night, 23 Reading residents graduated from the nine-week course following a ceremony held at the conclusion of the final class session. The CPA ran weekly on Tuesdays from Sept. 12 through Nov. 7.

Pictured left to right: Laura Gemme, Deputy Chief David J. Clark, Margaret Pearson, Alec Brown, Ellen Devecis, Tamar Bucci, Kegan Coulter, Lt. Christine Amendola, Jacob Berman, John Miles, Deborah Tura, Brian Van Horn, Darlene Holland, Bob Schuster, Kim Vetter, Dave Erwin, Christopher Cushing, Salvatore Clemente (blocked by) Chief Mark D. Segalla, Michael DiLorenzo, Tim Kirwan, Janice Funai, David Chiaradonna, Community Service Officer Kristen O’Shaughnessy. Not pictured: DaLonn Pearson, Theresa Riggillo and Mona Lee. (Courtesy Photo)

Each week, CPA participants learned about a different topic. The course touched on all aspects of the Reading Police Department’s operations including: the investigative process, dispatch procedures, traffic safety, accident investigations, community policing, crime prevention, domestic violence and S.W.A.T. and regional response teams.

Chief Mark D. Segalla addresses the graduates and thanks them for their participation.

Graduates who completed six classes or more are now eligible to schedule a ride-along with a Reading police officer.

“I’m so proud to see our department complete another successful citizens academy,” Chief Segalla said. “Now that it’s over, I’m confident that 23 more members of our community have a deeper understanding of the Reading Police Department as an organization and more insight into our officers’ roles in the town.”

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