By Valerie Macon
Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to walk a mile in the boots of Fuquay-Varina’s finest? The Fuquay-Varina police and fire departments are offering you a unique opportunity. They are inviting you to discover firsthand the inner workings of both departments, not from a distance, but through immersive, hands-on experiences by participating in the Fuquay-Varina Citizens Police Academy and Fuquay-Varina Citizens Fire Academy.
The Fuquay-Varina Citizens Police Academy
Behind the badge and beyond the headlines, what really goes on at the Fuquay-Varina Police Department? Chief Tim Smith and Corporal Dan Look aim to pull back the curtain with the Citizens Police Academy. The goal is to educate people about the functions of law enforcement, dispel misinformation, and give people a true understanding of what law enforcement is. “We’re inviting the community into our home so they can understand how the police department operates,” Chief Smith explains. Corporal Look echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the personal connection, humanizing the uniform: “It’s a way for us to interact with community members and get to know them on a personal level; they get to see and meet us and our families.”
Across the nation, citizens police academies aim to build stronger community ties. Chief Smith and Corporal Look have championed this effort in Fuquay-Varina for the past eight years, transforming the program into a local asset. This program welcomes everyone 18 years and older, including supporters and non-supporters (those critical of law enforcement). As the Citizens Police Academy reveals the realities of law enforcement, participants report an increased understanding of police work and leave with a more informed and positive perspective. Non-supporters often become supporters. And so far, no one has left the class saying it was a waste of time; in fact, students typically love the course and recommend it to others. The goal is for participants to become supporters, advocates, and voices for law enforcement out in the community with first-hand experience.
What is included in the Citizens Police Academy’s 11-week curriculum? Corporal Look plans these sessions and selects the instructors who teach each topic. The first day is orientation when students are introduced to operations and organizational structure. After that, the curriculum includes a combination of classroom instruction and practical exercises. For example, students are shown how traffic stops are made, then they are taken out into the parking lot where they do traffic stops themselves, so they understand the perspective and the danger involved in a traffic stop. Subsequent classes include arrest law and arrests, search and seizures, motor vehicle law, traffic enforcement, firearms, firearm safety, use of force policies, child crimes, domestic violence, criminal investigations, narcotics, communications and dispatch (understanding the police 911 center), crime prevention, community outreach, driving while impaired, DWI detection, and introduction to CIT (crisis intervention team).
Participants finish the program with a certificate and a t-shirt, but that’s not all. Corporal Look says the doors stay open. Graduates can jump right into community outreach, helping with things like the Special Olympics fundraiser or selling Polar Plunge t-shirts. An advanced, part 2 of the Citizens Police Academy is in the works.
The program has been successful for eight years, and plans are to continue it. The next Citizens Police Academy class will be posted on the Fuquay-Varina Police Department’s website about a month or two prior to the start date. Corporal Look anticipates he will start posting in January.
The Fuquay-Varina Citizens Fire Academy
What sparks a fire department to open its doors and offer an inside look at their world? For the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department, the answer lies in a desire to connect with and educate their community. I recently met with the key players behind the Citizens Fire Academy — Division Chief of Fire Prevention Buddy Walters, Fire Chief Jim Jones, and Deputy Fire Marshal Laura Hill — to learn how they’re achieving this objective. According to Chief Jones, the program began with the fundamental goal of giving citizens a better understanding of what the fire department does, “how we do business, giving them a better understanding of what our ladies and gentlemen go through every day in the course of their jobs.” Chief Walters further highlighted the importance of “making that connection between the fire department staff and the community.”
Designed and coordinated by Deputy Fire Marshal Laura Hill, the program throws participants into the action with hands-on experiences. The curriculum includes orientation, Fuquay-Varina Fire Department history, fire prevention, code enforcement, and fire investigations. But this program isn’t just about theory; it’s about feeling the weight of the PPE (personal protective equipment), understanding the life-saving mechanics of the SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), and climbing onto the ladder truck. As Deputy Hill emphasizes, “Pretty much, every night is hands on.” Imagine wielding a fire extinguisher against a simulated blaze, feeling the power of the Jaws of Life during vehicle extrication drills, and mastering the life-saving skills of CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest. This is an immersive journey into the heart of firefighting.
The second week of class, students are assigned their own set of gear and are given a gear bag that they are responsible for. They are expected to wear their gear for safety, but also to understand how firefighters have to function and work while wearing it. Chief Jones remembers the excitement when the gear and helmets were handed out. “The smiles on their faces that night,” he recounts, “were incredible. They were so happy to have it, and that’s the feeling we were aiming for — to make them feel like they’re a firefighter, we want them to feel they are part of us.”
But the benefits of the Citizens Fire Academy haven’t been one-sided. Chief Jones reflects, “It has also been invigorating to me, and I think some of the guys feel the same way, watching [participants’] faces and their actions when we’re doing stuff with them that we just kind of take for granted, like rolling hose or spraying water. Just to see the excitement on their faces, reminds us of how much fun it actually is.”
This has been the Fire Department’s first try at the Citizens Fire Academy, and they are committed to its continuation. The course is six weeks long, meeting one night a week. Open to individuals 18 and older who pass a background check (no upper age limit), the next session is planned for spring. Keep an eye on the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department’s website, social media, and the town newsletter for application dates.
Student Perspectives
Celeste Brown, Citizens Police Academy Graduate
Celeste Brown’s journey into understanding the complexities of policing began unexpectedly at a “Coffee with a Cop” event. Initially, she attended to express gratitude to the officers whose early-morning patrols along her running route provided her with a sense of security, especially given concerns about runner safety. “I just felt very comfortable knowing there was someone out there,” she explained. However, her inherent interest in true crime sparked a deeper conversation with Officer Doxie leading to the suggestion of the Citizens Police Academy.
The 11-week program proved to be an eye-opening experience. “There was so much to learn,” Brown recalled, detailing the comprehensive curriculum that covered everything from officer hiring processes and departmental structure to specialized divisions like traffic, investigations, and narcotics. The program also delved into sensitive areas such as domestic violence and child crimes, which Brown described as “the heaviest week,” emotionally. Training included firearms safety, communications, DWI enforcement, and the crucial role of school resource officers. The canine unit demonstration was another highlight. “There’s just so much they’re dealing with,” she emphasized, noting the program offered only a glimpse into the multifaceted nature of police work.
Brown’s perception of law enforcement shifted significantly. “I wouldn’t say I wasn’t supportive, but I hadn’t had much interaction with them. Now I have a better appreciation that their job is very multifaceted,” she stated. She was particularly impressed by the Fuquay-Varina Police Department’s commitment to ongoing training, including crisis intervention and mental health. Ride-alongs further solidified her understanding of the inherent dangers officers face during routine traffic stops. “You just don’t know what you’re coming up on,” she observed.
Inspired by her experience, Brown is now committed to bridging the gap between the community and the police. She actively participates in events like Special Olympics and plans to collaborate with her sorority on volunteer initiatives such as backpack giveaways. “Community outreach is really important,” she believes, emphasizing the need for positive interactions that humanize officers and foster mutual understanding. She also hopes to do another ride-along, this time with a detective, to see how the investigation side of police work operates.
Dakota Golden, Citizens Fire Academy Graduate
Dakota Golden has had a longstanding interest in firefighting. A one-time volunteer firefighter at Fuquay-Varina Fire Station 1 for a brief period, he drifted in a different direction when he moved back to California and started his own business. “It’s been a calling,” he acknowledges. The Citizens Fire Academy has rekindled his desire to return to firefighting full-time, and he views it as a positive step in that direction.
For Golden, the Fire Academy’s strength lies in its practical hands-on approach. He values the skills he gained, like performing CPR, applying a tourniquet, operating the Jaws of Life, and mastering fire hose techniques. But beyond firefighting, he sees their broader value. “These are skills I could pass on to my kids, like putting out a fire,” he stated, “especially in an emergency when I’m not home.”
Beyond the technical skills, Golden values the fire department’s strong sense of “brotherhood” — their supportive, family-like bond. He also appreciates their commitment to the community demonstrated by inviting residents to events and sharing participation opportunities with Citizens Fire Academy graduates. Just recently they had a “fire engine push,” a ceremonial event where a new fire truck (or fire engine) is manually pushed into the fire station bay by firefighters and community members, a tradition rooted in fire service history. Their recent partnership with the police department to build beds for children is another example of community involvement.
For Information and Application
Citizens Police Academy: The next class and application dates will be posted on the Fuquay-Varina Police Department’s website a month or two prior to the start date. Corporal Look expects to begin putting the word out in January.
Citizens Fire Academy: The next session is planned for spring 2026. Keep an eye on the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department’s website, social media, and the Fuquay-Varina town newsletter for application dates.
