Inside the Biloxi Police Department’s Citizens Academy

The Biloxi Police Department’s inaugural citizen’s academy gathered this evening to continue their education on how the department operates.

Tonight was the fifth week of the academy and the class learned about criminal investigations from Biloxi Investigator Sgt. Larry Barum.

The class was walked through an armed robbery case and the suspects were eventually apprehended.

CPA students come from all walks of life. Cristal Pelfrey, who works in the Biloxi Municipal Court, had her own reason for choosing to participate. “I see the cases as they come through to the court and I wanted to get a better perspective of what they’re doing out there on the streets before things come to us at the court so that I can do my job better to help the citizens of Biloxi. I don’t want to say it’s changed anyone’s perspective because I don’t know if it has or hasn’t but I do think it’s given a lot of insight and knowledge and maybe shifted gears a little bit to a better understanding of our Biloxi Police Department.”

There are still five more weeks of the citizen’s academy. By the end of the course, students will be able to do a ride-along with an officer.