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FORT SMITH — The Police Department’s Citizen’s Academy recently began another class to help residents understand who the police are and what they do.
Robyn Shoptaw, crime prevention officer, said different people take the course. She said she isn’t aware of anyone becoming a police officer as a result, but attendees often join the academy’s alumni association and help the department with volunteer efforts.
“Our goal with putting on this class is for the citizens of Fort Smith to be able to understand what we do, and relate to us as people,” Shoptaw said. “We create this enviornment where it’s very open. They get to ask questions, talk to all of these different officers and dispatchers and civilian employees that do this every day…
