NATCHEZ — The start of the Natchez Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy has been delayed to give residents more time to apply for the academy.

NPD Detective Jerry Ford said seven or eight residents signed up for the academy, but NPD generally tries to have a class of at least 15-20 residents.

“We have a lot of people taking time out of their busy schedules, and when you’re talking about judges and attorneys, they’re already busy people,” Ford said. “We really don’t want to have a minimum number of people in the class for the time they are taking. Those seven or eight people are just as important as if the room was full, but we prefer to have a nice-sized class.”

The academy will now start on March 3 and meet from 6 until 9 p.m. for seven weeks each Monday. The seventh-week meeting will be a graduation ceremony.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28.

The citizens academy is designed to teach residents about the local justice system and equip them with crime-prevention knowledge, Ford said.

Residents will be taken through the processes of the local justice system, from the time an offender is arrested and booked into jail to their trial.

The six-week academy will offer insights into the various departments within NPD, municipal court procedures, the district attorney’s role in prosecution and includes a ride-along with a patrol officer at the end of the academy.

The academy, Ford said, will teach residents about suspicious activity of which to be aware and how they can utilize the Crime Stoppers system that allows residents to phone in tips, remain anonymous and receive cash rewards for helping police.

The academy is sponsored by Crime Stoppers and the local Neighborhood Watch program and is free to Adams County residents who are at least 18. Residents must complete an application for the academy and pass a basic background check.

Applications can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the records division inside NPD at 233 D’Evereux Drive.