The Kerrville Police Department honored the 8th Citizen Police Academy graduating class with a special ceremony on Tuesday, April 19th at 6 p.m. at Rails - A Café at the Depot restaurant. The ceremony honored 19 community members who participated in the program.

The Citizen Police Academy is designed to give the public a working knowledge of the Kerrville Police Department through comprehensive classroom instruction, demonstration, tours, and hands-on activities.

Program Coordinators, Officer Paul Gonzales and Sgt. Mary Krebs, Captains David Knight and Jeffrey Wendling, Lieutenant Joseph Lanning, City Manager Todd Parton, and Mayor David Wampler congratulated the graduates, their friends and family. Each graduate received a certificate of completion along with an academy shirt.

"Congratulations, I thank each of you for taking the time away from your schedules and families to participate in the Citizen Police Academy and for becoming a vital part of the police department!" said Capt. David Knight, as he addressed the graduating class.

City Manager Parton and Mayor Wampler also addressed the class, thanking the citizens for taking an active role in making Kerrville a better place to live and work!

"The Citizen Police Academy experience of the past 12 weeks has exceeded all of our expectations. We have learned not only about the internal policies and procedures, but have gained insight into the thinking and character of the men and women of the Kerrville Police Department. The professionalism and honor they exhibit definitely comes from the top and spreads through the department” said Citizen Academy graduate and Class President ReDonna Newman.

The next Citizen Police Academy starts August 2011, but space is limited and fills up quickly. Find out more about the academy and how to sign up at: www.kerrvilletx.gov/police