Muskogee Police Department Holds Citizens' Police Academy

Tuesday night in Muskogee, a class learned some ways to be alert and safe at the Citizens' Police Academy.

The heart-breaking images of destruction - be it bombing or shooting - continue to play out on televisions across the world.

At the academy, Muskogee Officer, Lincoln Anderson said people learned what to do if they find themselves in a dangerous situation.

"I read a quote this morning where a person said they heard the explosion in the airport and they seen everyone running toward the explosion and they ran the other way, and that's what we want. We want people to get away from those things," he said.

Tuesday it was in Brussels, tomorrow people everywhere hope it's not in their back yard.

3/22/2016 Related Story: Terror Attacks Rock Belgium; Death Toll Rising

Anderson said, "As a community, as a city, we see the things going on in other cities, other towns, other states around the world, and we don't want that in ours."

While tracking terrorists is difficult, the public can be vigilant - and that's one of the reasons for the Muskogee Citizens' Police Academy.

Tuesday’s class is the largest one yet.

During a ten-week period, the public will learn how to work with police, how to spot something suspicious, what to do during an active shooter situation and other scenarios.

"I think there's a lot of interest in Muskogee, and the community, and, in particular, the police department and how they interact with the community,” Mike Brawley said.

Police said, despite the loss of life in recent acts of violent, there's something to learn from it.

"Let’s not let these things happen here. Let’s make it better before it gets bad," Anderson said.

Since the turnout was so great, the police department hopes to put together another academy after this ten-week program is over.