By Pam Orr-Meridian Fire Department
On March 31st, the Meridian Fire and Police Department’s will once again partner to present Meridian City’s Public Safety Academy. We are starting class VIII and still have some available openings for people who live or work in this great city.
Just what is the Public Safety Academy? Both departments show participants what it is like to be a member of a public safety organization. Students hear and experience first hand knowledge of firefighters and police officers in the field.
Participants have an opportunity to: Meet the Mayor, Fire and Police Chiefs, visit the 911 dispatch center and the ADA County jail. They also learn what Meridian detectives and fire investigators are challenged with, they practice CSI duties, learn about traffic stops, to include hands-on use of tools of the trade such as the radar gun and others, they learn about drugs in our community, and how the K-9’s work and are trained. Students are given the chance to wear all the gear necessary while performing building searches looking for criminals or fire victims. Learning CPR and first aid, how to protect your family from fires, and an opportunity to learn about fire behavior and fire extinguishment are also covered.
Classes meet in Meridian on Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00pm. There are four Saturday commitments the departments call Super Saturdays as they are exciting hands-on meetings that include opportunities to drive department vehicles, rappel from the training tower, shoot fire arms and fire hose, learn about TAZERs, cut up cars using many tools of the trade and so much more!
The Meridian Public Safety Academy is free of charge, but you are required to complete an application and make a commitment to attendance.
If this opportunity sounds like something you are interested in and you live or work in Meridian; contact Pam Orr at 888-1234/ porr@meridiancity.org or Melissa Delaney at 846-7360 / mdelaney@meridiancity.org for an application.