Tell City opens enrollment for citizen’s police academy

The Tell City Police Department is opening online enrollment Monday night for its no-cost Citizen’s Police Academy, a 10-week program that gives Perry County residents a look at daily law-enforcement operations. The department lists the academy under its community services, and residents can reach it at 812-547-5511 or secretary@tellcity.in.gov.

The class is designed to show how policing works in Tell City, from routine calls and traffic stops to investigations and emergency responses. It also offers a closer view of the policies, procedures, training standards and limits officers work under, which can help explain why officers make certain decisions in the field.

The program is aimed at Perry County citizens who want a better understanding of how the department operates, whether they are longtime residents, business owners, neighborhood advocates or simply people who are curious about local policing. By putting residents in the room with officers and department staff, the academy gives the community a structured way to ask questions and learn how different parts of the department function.

That kind of access matters in a small city like Tell City, where most residents encounter police only when something has gone wrong. A citizen academy can make the work behind the badge less mysterious and show how daily decisions are made before a call ever reaches the street. It also gives officers a chance to hear directly from the people they serve, which can sharpen communication on issues that affect public safety and neighborhood trust.

The department’s community services listing places the academy within its broader outreach work, underscoring that it is not just a class but part of how the city connects police with the public. For residents who want to understand what happens behind the scenes during investigations, emergency calls and other routine duties, the academy offers a direct path into that process.