The Hispanic Citizens Police Academy graduated 19 people at a ceremony Monday night.
The Montgomery Police Department formed the academy to help build trust among the Latino community, MPD Chief Jim Graboys said. “It helps us target our response to their needs,” Graboys said.
Many in the Latino community voiced a distrust of the police after a string of robberies led to a triple homicide that killed George Elijah Jr., 50; Daniel Lopez, 20; and Romero Lopez, 43.
Sonia Perozo joined the academy after her husband graduated from a previous citizens academy, she said. Perozo said she wanted “to be able to get to know a little bit more of the work the police does around the city.” The most informative part of the course was when participants rode along with police officers throughout a shift, she said.
More:String of robberies leads to triple homicide in Montgomery, leaders say
More people continued to join as word got out about the program, Graboys said. The course met weekly and lasted eight weeks.
“Now that you have learned what you have learned you are ambassadors for us,” Graboys told the graduates Monday.
Graboys said he intends to organize more academies aimed at the Latino community.
“I just hope they keep doing it and more people keep signing up,” Perozo said.
The first citizen police academy program began with MPD In 2004.
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser’s education reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.
