(photo courtesy of the Beverly Hills Police Department)

The Beverly Hills Police Department has announced the 23 graduates of the 2018 Citizens Academy. During the 10-week academy, participants complete over 40 hours of instruction in police operations, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, defensive tactics, courtroom procedures and even firearms training.

The Beverly Hills Police Department said it values its relationship with the community. The Citizens Academy program is a forum for officers to engage with the community and provide education about law enforcement operations. The Department plans to run the next Citizens Academy in 2019.