Fifteen area residents on Wednesday completed Citizens' Police Academy with the Colonial Regional Police Department. Chief Roy D. Seiple congratulated participants during celebratory cake and coffee.

On the last night of the 11-week course, Seiple was confident each participant was leaving the academy with a better understanding of his department and, most importantly, with connections to local officers and fellow residents.

The academy included tours of Northampton County Prison and Northampton County Emergency Management Services; a gun range trip, and classes that covered a crime scene investigation, DUI and accident reconstruction, drug identification and mock court hearings, just to name a few.

Special instructors included District Judge James Narlesky, Assistant District Attorney Richard Pepper, Attorney James Burke, Coroner Zachary Lysek, Officer John Roth, and Mark Lambert and Jason Wirley from Northampton County Prison.

Mary Bem said her overall experience was "amazing." She added, "[It was] very interesting [to learn] about Colonial Regional Police Department. I truly enjoyed the experience."

And some of the participants left with a better appreciation for local police officers.

"Keep up the good work," wrote Elizabeth Fields in her academy evaluation. "With you guys there for us, the feeling of safety is real."

Editor's Note: Information provided by Colonial Regional Police.