Ninth Citizen Academy class graduates

Mike Swanson

Nineteen students became Laguna Beach Police Department Citizen

Academy graduates Wednesday after spending 12 nights learning some

tricks of the trade.

Sgt. Darin Lenyi started the Citizen Academy in 1998 to provide

community members with a better understanding of the Laguna Beach

Police Department and to increase communication between police and

residents. The ninth graduating class is among a class of 180 alumni.

After the next Citizen Academy completes its 12-week course, which

begins Jan. 7, Lenyi plans to have a party and reunion bringing what

should be about 200 graduates together.

“Every class of graduates is unique and has its own personality,

but everyone involved always become fast friends,” Lenyi said. “Now

that we’ve wrapped up this session, we’re actively recruiting for our

10th class.”

Lenyi and other police personnel give students a history of the

department; instruction in traffic enforcement, investigations,

gangs, narcotics, neighborhood watch, crime prevention, crime scene

investigation, the police K-9 program, volunteer programs; and a tour

of Orange County Jail.

Academy members also get to shoot at the police firing range and

participate in mock police scenarios, Lenyi said.

The ninth graduating class included Dawn Bartz, whose husband Greg

has been honored for his 30th year with the Laguna Beach Police

Department.

Other graduates were Charles Barr, Tony Dallendorfer, Jackie

Jacobson, Robyn Kinser, Matt Lawson, Nancy Magruder, Todd Morris,

Jill Pink, Robert Proudlock, Darcy Roth, Constance Roy, James Roy,

Walter Srebnik, Michael Wallock, Maria Price, Elvia Gomez, Kevin

Mazur and Frank Visca.

Representatives from the department, including Chief James

Spreini, attended the graduation ceremony along with graduates’

family members at Partner’s Bistro and Terrace on Wednesday.

The deadline to submit applications for the 10th session is Jan.

2. For questions about the academy, contact Lenyi at (949) 497-0750,

ext. 230 or via e-mail at dlenyi@lagunabeachcitynet.