The Clarksburg Police Department is looking for about 20 people.
But officers are not searching the city for 20 suspected criminals. Instead, they're after residents to attend their third Citizens Police Academy.
"We're looking to start another one maybe by the end of February," acting Police Chief John Walker said.
"The Citizens Police Academy is a good tool to reach out and get information to the community about what we do, and get information back from them,"Walker said.
During the 14-week course, residents learn about various aspects of the police department, corrections and justice system, Walker said.
"They meet one night a week for three hours," he said. "We go over different areas of law enforcement, criminal investigations, traffic law, canine operations, corrections and the court system," he said.
Police officers, prosecutors and Department of Health and Human Resources officers are among those who teach the class, Walker said.
"It gives people a better understanding of what we do, and it allows them to get to know the officers who teach the class," he said.
"One of the main reasons we have (the academy) is to build a relationship with the community," Walker said.
Although the class meets in Clarksburg City Council chambers at City Hall, members do not just do class work, he said. Residents get to take field trips to places like the Harrison County Correctional Center and one of the area's regional jails, he said.
Clarksburg police officials used to believe they were the only department in the country offering the citizens academy, but they have discovered that four or five other states offer similar classes, Walker said.
The classes are made up of a diverse group of people from the Clarksburg community, he said.
"We've had people from all walks of life, young and old," he said.
Residents must be at least 18 years old to take the class.
The police department has a graduation ceremony when each class is complete. Graduates keep in touch through an alumni association, which advises the department, Walker said.
Deadline for the new class is set for Feb. 15, he said. Information about registering for the class is available from Walker at 624-1618.
