Pictured are participants in the 2023 Citizen Police Academy hosted by the Jamestown Police Department. A donation to assist this year’s academy was made by Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant. P-J file photo

The Jamestown Police Department is revving up recruitment efforts for its 2024 Citizen Police Academy.

A donation by the Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant is expected to help the department in that regard.

On Monday, the Jamestown City Council accepted a $1,000 donation from the engine maker toward this year’s academy. Beginning Feb. 21, classes will run for about 13 consecutive weeks.

A means for the community to learn about the police department and its often behind-the-scenes operations, the Citizen Police Academy returned in 2023 after a years-long hiatus.

Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At-Large, on Monday thanked Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson and the department’s staff for “resurrecting” the long-dormant Citizens Police Academy.

“I think this is a great way for the police department to reach out to our community, engage in our community, and show the community what the police department does and how it works.”

According to the department, the academy is open to adults with preference given to those who reside or work within the city.

Topics that will be covered this year include patrol duties, criminal investigations, firearms, crime scene processing, domestic violence and narcotics.

Participants will be given the opportunity to ride along on patrol with an officer prior to the completion of the academy.

Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward V, thanked Cummins for its donation on behalf of the City Council. “It will be well-used,” he said.

Last year’s academy was made possible by a donation from Rand Machine Products.

In May 2023, about a dozen people were recognized for their completion of the Citizen Police Academy in a ceremony held at the city Municipal Building.

Jackson, in speaking to the class and their families during the ceremony, noted that the police department had not held an academy in at least 23 years.

“They were awesome,” Jackson said of the community members who completed the course. “Seriously, can’t thank them enough. We got a lot of good feedback from them — both good, a lot of good, thankfully. And we’re going to incorporate a lot of their suggestions into the next class.”