The city of Simi Valley is offering classes for residents interested in the workings of the police department, the district attorney’s office or the city’s emergency response team.

The Citizens Academy program, which begins Jan. 13, is designed to increase understanding of the operation of the police department and the county’s criminal justice system.

Students receive instruction from Simi Valley Police Department representatives, the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and other agencies that work in partnership with the police department.

Classes include narcotics enforcement, K-9 officers, dispatch, patrol, investigations, gangs, crime analysis, emergency services, SWAT and traffic enforcement. Students participate in a ride-along and in visits to the county’s main jail, sheriff’s academy and air unit.

“It’s really an eye-opener,” said Sgt. Dwight Thompson. “We want to open up and be more transparent, really let the public see what we’re all about. Sometimes people are surprised about all that goes on in the community and that we are out there serving the needs of the city.”

The program was started in the mid-’90s

“It also serves as a gateway for volunteers to get involved in the department,” said Thompson, who now heads up the volunteer and reserve officer programs for SVPD. “Because of budget stuff, we’ve had to pull back, but we’re really trying to beef these programs back up. We want to bring the community back to the police department.”

Classes are once a week for 11 weeks beginning Wed., Jan. 13 and ending Wed., March 24. Sessions will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Simi Valley Police Department.

The city of Simi Valley is also accepting applications for the next Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) classes.

The CERT curriculum includes providing disaster support to one’s own household, providing neighbor-to-neighbor assistance and rendering aid to coworkers immediately following a disaster.

The program began in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake, when city officials realized the need to train residents and businesses to be more self-reliant after a disaster. The CERT training program educated people about local hazards that may impact the area. Training for teaching basic disaster response skills is also offered.

Neither participation on a team nor being officially “on call” to respond to real disasters is a requirement of the training.

Students will receive a certificate of completion; a CERT instruction manual; and a start-up kit, including a helmet, chin strap, gloves, vest and goggles.

All classes except the last one are on Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center at the police department. Classes are Jan. 14, 21 and 28, Feb. 4, 11 and 18.

The final class is on Sat., Feb. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ventura County Regional Fire Training Center in Camarillo.

Both programs are free and open to anyone over 18 who lives or works in Simi Valley,.

Interviews for the Citizens Academy are currently being conducted and are open until Dec. 30.

Contact Janet Seghi, volunteer coordinator, at (805) 5836927 for more information.

For those interested in the CERT program, applications are available at the police department or online at www.simivalley.org/ CERT.

Applications can be mailed or hand-delivered to Theresa Adams, CERT program director, at the Simi Valley Office of Emergency Services at 3901 Alamo St.

They can also be e-mailed to CERT@simivalley.org or faxed to (805) 583-6201. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until Jan. 1 or when the class is full.