Fairview recognizes North Valley Citizens Police Academy grads
Photo by Maria Ricks.
FAIRVIEW—The Fairview City Hall was packed during a recent city council meeting as graduates of the North Valley Citizens Police Academy were recognized for completing a six-week program designed to give residents a firsthand look at modern law enforcement.
North Valley Police Department Chief Steve Gray and Officer Trevor Painter presented certificates of completion to participants during the ceremony, celebrating the academy’s second year of operation and its growing role in connecting local residents with the police officers serving northern Sanpete County communities.
The academy, hosted this year in Fairview after previously being held in Mt. Pleasant, was open to residents throughout Sanpete County. Organizers said the evening classes regularly stretched well beyond their scheduled length as participants engaged officers with questions and discussions about policing.
“We anticipate about an hour each night, but it always goes two hours, sometimes three,” Gray said.
The course combined classroom instruction with demonstrations intended to help residents better understand how officers make decisions in difficult and rapidly changing situations. Participants learned about less-lethal tools such as tasers, department procedures and the realities officers face during high-stress encounters.
One of the academy’s more memorable demonstrations involved Painter volunteering to be tased in front of the class, drawing laughter and smiles from council members and graduates as the moment was recalled during the recognition ceremony.
Gray said the academy’s primary goal is to provide a clearer picture of police work than what people may encounter through headlines, television or social media coverage.
“The academy gave them some opportunities to see the inside of police work instead of what they see on the media sometimes,” Gray said.
After six weeks of instruction, participants took part in a practical training day featuring realistic law enforcement scenarios. Graduates were required to evaluate situations, determine how to engage suspects and practice de-escalation techniques while learning how quickly encounters can evolve.
“After the six weeks, we had kind of a day where we set up practical scenarios, so they did everything from shoot bad guys to also learn how to handle some tough situations,” Gray said.
According to department leaders, participants approached the exercises seriously and performed well throughout the training.
Several graduates received special recognition during the ceremony. J.B. Utley was honored for earning the highest overall scores in the academy and was jokingly nicknamed “the Avenger” by officers.
Lisa Chatwin presented North Valley officers with an American flag featuring a blue line, which department officials said now hangs in the chief’s office as a reminder of community support for local law enforcement.
Police leaders emphasized the academy is intended to strengthen relationships between officers and residents by encouraging transparency and open dialogue about law enforcement practices.
Organizers said the program allows residents to ask tough questions, observe procedures firsthand and gain a better understanding of the challenges officers face in the field. Officials hope those experiences will increase trust between police and the communities they serve while encouraging greater public involvement in community safety efforts.
Councilwoman Shirlene Rasmussen, who attended the academy herself, praised the experience during the meeting and encouraged fellow council members and residents to participate in future sessions.
Organizers said they hope to continue offering the academy regularly as staffing and schedules allow. Youth groups may also participate in modified versions of the program designed for younger audiences.
Residents interested in future academy sessions may contact Gray at the North Valley Police Department for additional information.