Italy Police Department graduates inaugural class from Citizens Police Academy

Anne Sutherland Posted June 19, 2012 12:00pm Italy PD

Image: Congratulations to the first class of graduates from Italy’s Citizens Police Academy! Left to right: Isaac Medrano, James Doskocil, Anne Sutherland, Elmerine Allen Bell, Officer Shawn Martin, Meg Lyons, Officer Eric Toliver and Kelly Westbrook. — Congratulations to the first class of graduates from Italy’s Citizens Police Academy! **Left to right**: Isaac Medrano, James Doskocil, Anne Sutherland, Elmerine Allen Bell, Officer Shawn Martin, Meg Lyons, Officer Eric Toliver and Kelly Westbrook.

Chief Diron Hill of the Italy Police Department recognized 6 people who graduated from the first class of the Italy Citizens Police Academy Monday night during the City Council meeting.

The new program started on March 26 and ended with a graduation ceremony at the City Council meeting June 4. Chief Diron Hill wanted to share insight into the police department with class. “The academy members are ambassadors and teach others in the community, basically be a bridge, an example for others to follow. We want to co-partner with the community and work toward a common goal.”

With lectures in Dangers of Being a Police Officer, Recruitment & Training, Laws, Patrol Functions, Building Searches, Family Violence, Narcotics, Animal Control, Texas Department of Public Safety and various other topics, professionals gave information and answered questions in detail.

Chief Hill talked to the class extensively about criminal mischief, frequent offenders, family violence to help teach the class and liaison between the community and the department in a non-professional way. One of the topics, “frequent offenders,” inspired this quote from Chief Hill, “We (the police department) deal with 20% of the people 80% of the time.”

Professionals lecturing the class included Judge Jackie Miller, Officer Eric Tolliver, County & District Attorney Phillip Martin, Sheriff Mike McKenna, Sgt. Tierra Mooney, Officer Shelbee Landon, Officer Daniel Pitts, Officer Mike Richardson and TDPS Sgt. Herring. The Italy Police Department was available for questions at all class times and Chief Hill was always approachable.

Chief Hill and Italy officers are proud of the first graduating class and are expecting great things in the future. The Chief is excited about what is to come and looks forward to working with the next year’s class.

The department requires that Citizens Police Academy participants be 18 and a complete criminal background check will be performed.

2012 Italy Police Department Citizens Police Academy Graduates:

James Doskocil
Meg Lyons
Elmerine Allan Bell
Anne Sutherland
Kelly Westbrook
Isaac Medrano

“Courage is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

Kelly Westbrook receives his diploma from Italy Police Chief Diron Hill as a member of the first class Citizens Police Academy graduates. (Barry Byers)

Anne Sutherland is beaming with pride upon receiving her diploma and congratulations from Chief Hill as a member of the first class of graduates from the Citizens Police Academy.

Meg Lyons graciously accepts her diploma from Italy Police Chief Diron Hill as a member of the first graduating class of the Citizens Police Academy. (Barry Byers)

James “J.D.” Doskocil is congratulated by Italy Police Chief Diron Hill on being a member of the first training class of the Citizens Police Academy.

Elmerine Allen Bell, who has never shied away from being a pioneer of worthwhile causes, accepts her diploma from Italy Police Chief Diron Hill as a member of the first class of graduates of the Citizens Police Academy. (Barry Byers)

Meg Lyons presents Italy Police Chief Diron Hill with a gift of appreciation for his and his officers’ efforts in the Citizens Police Academy. (Barry Byers)

Elmerine Allen Bell presents Officer Tierra Mooney with a gift for Officer Kilo, the department’s canine cop. Elmerine explained, “I hope the gift helps Officer Kilo to like me,” which got a chuckle from Chief Hill and the attending guests. (Barry Byers)

Mooney’s Angels! Don’t worry folks, their fingers are not loaded. In fact, Anne Sutherland (second from the right) is only cleared to carry a pretend taser. Not pictured is Isaac Medrano. (Barry Byers)

Congratulations to Italy Neotribune’s own Anne Sutherland on becoming a graduating member of the Citizens Police Academy. You make us proud! (Barry Byers)