Marple Police Graduate Second Citizens Police Academy Class

BROOMALL–Seven students from the Citizens Police Academy were recognized for their completion of the 10-week class by Marple police and members of the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 9.

Marple police Sgt. Tony Colgan introduced its newest graduating members of the Marple Township Citizens Police Academy to the public–Marple residents Pattie Price, Ervis Asllanaj, Ronald Arnold, Thomas McElwee III, Mark Fogel, John Moran and Hillary Price.

The seven students are the program's second graduating class. In total, Colgan said about 15 residents have participated in the program so far and anticipate for more interest come spring when the next session will take place. In addition, Colgan mentioned some of the highlights of the program.

"We're hoping for more people to participate," said Colgan. "The highlight of the program is the 911 center and the new command center vehicle. They also got to tour our facilities, look at our police equipment, our police cars and they'll be riding along with us in a four-hour block in the next couple of weeks."

Colgan said the Marple Township Citizens Police Academy was able to come into fruition with the help of Police Chief Tom Murray, Lt. Frank Hannigan, Sgt. Michael Johnson, Dets. Michael Sharkey and Barry Williams, and officers Ray Stiles, Eric Miller, Peter Baylor and Christopher Barmes. 

"This was Chief Murray's idea," said Colgan. "We've been working on it for several years now. This is the second year we've ran it. We got the attendees exposed to about a third of our police department, which I thought was good."

shop also helped the program with its committed sponsorship since the very beginning.

"Lou Pace Auto sponsored the Citizens Police Academy for the second year in a row," said Colgan. "He paid for all the supplies, he paid for the shirts for the attendees got. If it wasn't for Lou, we wouldn't be able to put this on."

The Citizens Police Academy ran for 10 weeks beginning on Sept. 13. Classes were conducted every Tuesday evening for three hours and included topics such as the legal system, patrol procedures, criminal investigations, communications, and community policing.