FAIRBORN — The Fairborn Police Department is gearing up for another round of its annual Citizens Police Academy.

The 12-week course, which runs from Thursday, Jan. 11 through Thursday, March 29, aims to give citizens an up-close look at the inner workings of the Fairborn Police Department.

Participants meet from 6-9 p.m. each Thursday and learn topics such as police operations, jail responsibilities, dispatch, firearm safety, use of force, self defense, elements of crime, K9-Unit, crime scene investigation and other items. It will be taught by Fairborn Police Department officials and includes a tour of the department within the first meeting.

Citizens must attend 10 of the 12 courses in order to receive a certificate of completion. Participants are also welcome to schedule a ride-along with a Fairborn officer on duty as they undertake the course.

Participants must be over 18 years old and complete an application which is available online by visiting http://ci.fairborn.oh.us/forms.aspx?FID=63. Applicants are subject to a background check before acceptance into the course. The academy is free and is limited to 16 participants. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

City officials said upon making the application available online, nearly half of the spots were filled. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For more information, contact Fairborn Police Sergeant Willard Watts at 937-754-3066, ext. 3227.