The Office of Public Safety’s first Citizen/Clergy Academy graduated about 75 participants in a Tuesday evening commencement service in Newark. According to officials, the academy classes started on March 29th, and lasted 9 weeks and averaged about 100 participants weekly. This academy class marked the beginning of the Public Safety Department’s first Citizen Clergy Academy officials said. During the past 9 weeks, the participants were provided insight into the department’s various components which included a basic understanding of functions and operations of the Police and the Fire divisions and the Office of Emergency Management. "For 9 weeks, the graduates have glimpsed into the operations and organization of the Police Division and training received by Newark Police Officers Captain Derek Glenn said. They were provided with insight into deployment decisions, how the dispatch center works, and how calls for service are prioritized while providing them a “day-in-the-life” of what it’s like to be a police officer Glenn said. They received training on crime prevention, gang awareness and domestic violence issues which also included spending a session at the range and experienced “shoot don’t shoot” scenarios on the department’s new state of the art (F.A.T.S) machine, Firearm Training System. Through their Fire Division training, participants learned how to devise a fire escape plan, how arson investigations are conducted, and were trained on the proper use of a fire extinguisher Glenn said.