Cape Girardeau police are giving area residents a chance to find out how they work beginning on Tuesday.

The Citizens' Police Academy consists of an eight-week curriculum held every Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the police station. The academy is designed to familiarize citizens with the daily activities of the department and enhance cooperation between police and the community.

The training will cover a variety of law enforcement topics and will be taught by police officers. Topics include: department operations and programs; criminal and traffic laws; patrol and investigations; community policing; firearms and defensive tactics; personal safety; domestic violence and crime-scene processing.

The academy is designed to provide a foundation of training for new groups of volunteers. Although volunteering time is not a prerequisite for attending the academy, graduates will be encouraged to participate in departmental volunteer activities.

Participants have to be 18 years of age and undergo a background check.

Individuals interested in attending the free academy or learning more about the police-community volunteer program should contact Cpl. Kevin Orr at 335-6621.