An annual program designed to give Palm Beachers an up-close look at how the town’s first responders do their job kicks off Feb. 18.
The Palm Beach Police and Fire Foundation Citizen’s Academy will see participants tag along with Palm Beach police and fire rescue officials to learn about training, missions and the day-to-day procedures of the town’s public-safety and emergency crews.
Registration for the program has closed.
Founded in 2000, the program also includes hands-on experiences overseen by police officers, detectives, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
Programs with the police department include ride-alongs in a police car and in the Marine Unit’s boat, along with firearms-safety training at the department’s indoor firing range, the use of tasers and interactive mock crime scene investigations.
Activities with fire rescue crews give participants experience with fire-hose drills and vehicle extractions. The will also try on bunker gear, get an look at Trauma Hawk training and learn safe CPR procedures.
First responders have lauded the training. During a Nov. 14 Safeguard Palm Beach safety forum, Palm Beach Fire-Rescue Chief Sean Baker noted that the program has helped create “first responders for the first responders.”
Since November 2024, Baker said, at least three “documented life-saves” related to people who were choking were attributed to residents who went through the foundation’s training course.
Slated for every Wednesday from Feb. 18 to March 11, the Citizen’s Academy concludes with a graduation ceremony at the Mandel Recreation Center.
More information about future Citizen’s Academy programs is available at PalmBeachPoliceAndFireFoundation.org.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Police and Fire Citizen’s Academy kickoff Feb. 18
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
