THP’s Citizens Academy Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Citizens Academy.

Sergeant Bill Fitzgerald said that the seven-week course will cover everything from patrol stops to trending state issues from Homeland Security.

“So citizens of that area of the community get to know and see and learn,” Fitzgerald said. “And be educated about things that we do more than just writing tickets and working crashes.”

Fitzgerald said that the program has gone on for about 10 years. He said it started mainly in the Nashville district but has since expanded to include the Cookeville and Memphis districts as well.

Fitzgerald said that those interested in attending Citizens Academy can pick up an application at their local office. He said participants must be at least 21 years old and have no felonies. Applications are due July 8th, with the academy starting August 16th.

“It’s helped us and it’s hopefully helped (previous participants) to be more outspoken for us whether in Knoxville or Cookeville and they have,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s a thing called the Alumni Association that they create in those districts for those that have graduated. So they meet once a month after the completion of the class and they get together to see how they can help us, even if it’s just bringing food down to their district post.”