CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — Everyday civilians had the opportunity to get a sneak peek into the day-to-day operations of the Albemarle County Police Department during Day 1 of the department’s Citizens’ Police Academy on Saturday.

“The program itself I think is a really important thing that we do just to help build trust in the community and give people an explanation as to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” Master Officer Joseph George told Cville Right Now. “And they also get to learn how we’re doing it here.”

The annual three-day program provides officers with a valuable opportunity to answer questions on their day-to-day operations directly from about a dozen civilians. During Saturday’s session, the presentations and experiences were run by either George and officers. The sessions will continue the next two Saturdays.

“Officers often almost 100% of the time get into this job to help people,” George said, “and what better way to have a good interaction with somebody than them wanting to have a dialogue with you rather than the officers coming to your situation that they got called there for. So, this is a great for that.”

He added that the program not only allows for citizens to ask questions and learn from officers, but for officers to learn from the participants as well. Many of the participants on Saturday asked questions related to their own personal experiences living in the county, and officers were able to explain their operations, such as how the department breaks up the county into two districts and eight sectors when planning out patrols, using local landmarks and lingo the participants were already familiar with.

On the first of the program’s three days, participants were given a tour of the police department, touching on key areas like the evidence and briefing rooms, as well as often overlooked areas like the department’s gym and quarters for officers who need to rest after a night shift.

Afterward, the participants learned about Patrol and Traffic Operations, heard from a representative of the Albemarle County Police Foundation and participated in a simulated crime scene investigation. Over the next two Saturdays, participants will learn about a variety of other aspects of the department, including crime analysis, SWAT and K-9’s and get to visit the department’s shooting range, use its VR simulator and go on a ride-along.

George said his favorite part of the academy is always watching the participants participate in the hands-on activities, like the crime scene investigation, in which they get learn how to handle evidence, dust for fingerprints and pull a shoe print off the floor. Still, he said in his experience the K-9s are always a favorite among the participants.

The Academy also allows officers to make personal connections with Albemarle residents, with some even giving the participants their personal phone numbers and emails.

“I still keep in contact with quite a few people from over the last few years of doing this,” George said. He’s been involved with the program since he started in his role with ACPD eight years ago. “It also gives the people attending an opportunity to reach out and have a good point of contact, whether it’s me through the community relations side of things or the patrol lieutenants that were here today.”