Local residents participating in the Citizens Police Academy (CPA) had a chance to take a look and actually put some of the Brownwood Police Department’s firearms to work Saturday at the BPD shooting range. CPA participants at the range were Michael Sheedy, Sr., Dale Pittman of Bangs, Sabrina Stewart of Bangs, Lou Roberts, Hank Hunter, Paul Coghlan, Bruce Means, and Phillip Whitley of Bangs.
The Citizens Police Academy gives local residents a behind-the-scenes look at the Brownwood’s police force and helps open the lines of communication between citizens and the police department. CPA participants meet weekly, over an 8-10 week period on Tuesday evenings. The objective of the Citizen Police Academy is not to train an individual to be a “reserve police officer” but to produce informed citizens. The citizens and police officers meet each other face to face in a neutral, friendly setting and each becomes a person to the other.
“The CPA is a way for our police department to open its doors to the public and give students an inside look at our police operations,” Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley said.
The trip to the police shooting range Saturday, educated the students about guns such as Glock 9mm pistols, Ruger Mini 14 rifles, 37mm gas guns, and assault rifles along with their ammunitions including bullets, wood blocks, rubber batons and gas cartridges. Each student was given an opportunity to fire the guns, getting personal instruction on how to properly load, hold and shoot the weapons. Targets were given to the students as mementos of the day.
A special guest at the shooting range Saturday was 8-year-old Miguel Mantos, who came to watch Paul Coghlan, his “Big Brother” from Big Brothers Big Sisters program, shoot and to meet the police that were present, including Chief Mike Corley, Assistant Chief James Fuller, Sgt. Michael Sheedy, Lt. John Harper, Officer Chandra Means, and firearms instructor Sgt. Richard Williams of the BPD. Steven Means of Early PD was also present. A special treat Miguel received was riding to the range in the Chief’s car which started out with sounding the siren. Pictured above is Miguel with Chief Corley.
Below are pictures of the CPA participants at the shooting range.
