The Flower Mound SWAT vehicle comes to a halt behind an unmarked car.

A team of six files out in full gear, taps up the line and moves in – barking commands at the suspects before pulling them from the car.

This was the ideal scenario the Flower Mound Citizen Police Academy ran through during SWAT training Oct. 22.

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Spending a Saturday morning firing a .40-caliber handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun, an M-4 rifle and an AK-47 isn’t out of the ordinary for Flower Mound’s citizen police academy; it’s all part of the experience.

The class of 20 stepped up to the firing line Saturday, each taking one-on-one instruction from Flower Mound police officers. The session was part of the 10-week course to explore the inner workings of the police department. (more)

He’s from central Europe, he understands only Czech and German, and he’s in charge of narcotics, patrol, and when needed, apprehension for the Flower Mound Police Department.

His name is Bullet, and he’s a police dog.

Bullet, 3, sniffed our marijuana, located an article and apprehended a pretend suspect Thursday at the police department’s citizen police academy, which is in its sixth week.

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It's about that time.

The citizen's police academy in Flower Mound is entering its sixth week of training. I'll be sitting in on my first session Thursday to get the scoop on communications, K-9 operations and the firearms briefing.

And Saturday, I'll put my new training to the test at Grapevine Police Department's gun range.

Stay tuned...

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Flower Mound’s citizen police academy is well underway.

The academy, which started classes Aug. 27, has already covered patrol, training, and juvenile and crimes against persons, said Steve Caldwell, crime prevention officer.

Up next, the class of 20 will learn about drug awareness and narcotics, as well as crime scene, property crime and identity theft.

The purpose of the 10-week course is to explore the inner workings of the police department, according to a press release.

Stay tuned. I’ll be attending the firearms briefing Oct. 1 and heading out to the shooting range just two days later. Check back for an update on the experience.

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Citizen police academies are starting their new season in several local communities. Although the programs vary by community, their purpose is common: to connect with the citizens.

Citizen police academies are intended to form a bridge between the communities and their police, said Jeff Moore, crime prevention officer of Carrollton.

“They can see what it’s like to be behind the badge,” he said.

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