NDPD Offers Insider Look with Citizen’s Academy

NEWBERG, Ore.—The Newberg-Dundee Police Department (NDPD) is reviving its Citizen’s Academy, offering area residents a chance to learn more about department operations through hands-on experience.

“This event is a way for the community to engage with the police department by seeing the inner workings of the department,” said NDPD Capt. Ryan Simmons. “We want our community members to know about their police department. I know from prior academies that participants come away with a better understanding of how NDPD officers respond to community needs.”

The event was previously held annually, according to Simmons. The last academy was hosted in 2018; Simmons could not recall why it was not held in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the program from 2020 to 2023.

“I also think it is the responsible thing for a police department to do,” Simmons said. “I hope the material presented provides transparency to the community we serve.”

Over the course of eight weekly two- to three-hour classes, attendees will learn about internal NDPD operations, including officer survival skills, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, scenario-based training, and firearm training. Citizens will graduate with a deeper understanding of what goes into Newberg’s local public safety.

The academy requires attendees to be 18 or older and able to pass a simple background check. Preference will be given to citizens with a Newberg-Dundee address, as class size is limited to 20 participants.

“There is no ideal candidate beyond an interest in knowing more about the police department,” Simmons said. “I understand that taking a couple of hours out of someone’s day during a weeknight is a big commitment, so I understand that it does not work for everyone.”

While the primary goal of the academy is to inform interested community members, secondary benefits include empowering citizens to know how to respond if they witness a crime and serving as a low-stakes introduction for those interested in joining the police force in the future.

“We would be honored to have our community members join this Citizen’s Academy,” Simmons said. “I have been a part of this department for 17 years, and I truly believe this is one of the best agencies to work for in the state of Oregon. We would love to show the people in the community what we do here, so we encourage everyone to apply.”

The NDPD Citizen’s Academy starts on September 17 and runs through November 19. Classes are every Tuesday during that time frame from 6 to 8 p.m., along with one longer Saturday “scenario-based training” class. Contact Karan Frketich via email or phone to apply.