UNDATED -- Five local Police Departments are now accepting applications for the 2013 Class of The Metro Citizens Police Academy.

St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park are the five stations looking for applications for this years Citizens Police Academy, something Waite Park Police Chief David Bentrud says they have done for years.

Applications for the Citizens Police Academy can be found at each station or on their websites, and while there is no exactly deadline stations would like to have a rough estimate by mid-August.

Classes begin the first Thursday after Labor Day, September 5th, and run for eight weeks to October 24th. It will be held at the St. Cloud Police Department from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each Thursday with a catered dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.

Participants of the academy will get to do many tasks that Police Officers do on any given day.

Those who complete the training courses are presented a certification of completion from the Chief of Police at the last training session.

Police Departments want to make sure that participants understand that the Citizen's Police Academy is solely informative and in no way trains or promotes citizens to act in a law enforcement capacity.

Instead the academy is a way to educate as well as have fun for those that attend.

Background checks will be done for all applicants before attending the academy. Applicants must also reside within the city limits of the police department they are applying.

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