A popular police outreach program has returned to the city of Coon Rapids. After a four year hiatus, the Community Police Academy is back and under the direction of Sergeant Cameron Gustafson.
"You see things on the news.” Gustafson said. “You hear about how law enforcement does something in one part of the country or somewhere else, so we want to show them what we do here in our community."
Nearly 20 members of the community signed up to spend one night a week, for six weeks, to get an inside look at the police department. Today they're getting a crash course on the patrol division, including a K-9 demonstration.
"Taz is almost seven. He's a Belgian Malinois imported from the Czech Republic," K-9 officer Brian Sternquist said.
Sternquist put on a skills demo with his award-winning K-9, Taz, which was the highlight of the night for many.
It was a three hour tour of the Coon Rapids Police Department, and a chance to meet the officers, and even ask questions.
Community Police Academy participant, Chester Dryke is new to the city. "It was very enlightening,” Dryke said. “A lot of information, it seems like it was longer than three hours, that's for sure."