Thirteen weeks might sound like a lot when you initially sign up for the Citizens Academy, but everyone who has taken the course will tell you that they go by fast – almost too fast. The running joke amongst attendees is that we no longer know what to do with our Thursday nights. For the last few months we've spent them throughout the township with White Lake's finest policemen and firefighters learning about how those departments work to serve us, the community. I guess, for me, I will return to work and go back to attending school board meetings on Thursdays – but it won't be the same. I …
Last Thursday the Citizens Academy took a trip to Alpine Valley in fire trucks with the White Lake Fire Department, and learned how to pump water, fill tankers and shoot fire hoses. In the sweltering heat, and in full gear, Academy attendees split into teams and raced to fill barrels with water from the hoses. While members of each team shot the hoses, others filled the tanker trucks from fire hydrants at Meijer, and then filled pools in the Alpine parking lot – simulating what firefighters would do at the scene of an actual fire. Check out the video footage for a taste of what the night …
I can't even begin to express in words the amount of fun I and my fellow Citizens Academy members had dismembering two vehicles with the fire department. We were all amazed, and in awe, at how powerful those tools are and just how efficient our White Lake firefighters are with them. Tasks like popping open a door, which took us 20 minutes, took our firefighters two minutes. We not only learned how to take apart a vehicle, we learned the steps the firefighters take to comfort and protect the victims trapped in the vehicles while the firefighters attempt to free them. Take a look at the video …
Have you ever wondered what it is, exactly, that the Oakland County Sheriff's Department's helicopter is used for? Have you ever wanted to know how much it costs to train a dog used by the K-9 unit? If you participate in the Citizens Academy you will learn. In the third field trip of the program the White Lake Police took us to the Oakland County Airport to see the county's helicopter, hear from a pilot, and to see a K-9 deputy in action. I learned that treats aren't necessary to train a dog, Toro works for tennis balls, and that the life of a helicopter pilot in the aviation unit is both …
For our first field trip, the White Lake Township Police Department took the Citizens Academy to the Waterford Police Department's gun range and taught all the attendees who wanted to learn how to shoot a gun. The first lesson in shooting a gun was learning the following commandments of firearm safety: All firearms are always considered loaded. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Be sure of your target and whats behind it. Next, we entered the range. Scroll through the photo gallery and watch the …
