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Montgomery County Citizen Academy Alumni Association (MCCAAA) |  |
Rev. Chon A. Gann, MDIV, BCMHC, CTP, Volunteer Police Chaplain, Montgomery County Police Department, Community Engagement Division, will be speaking on July 17 on “Hope Focused Suicide Prevention and Intervention.” This 90-minute interactive presentation offers a comprehensive overview of hope-focused suicide prevention and intervention strategies tailored for diverse audiences. Drawing on specialized materials from C.O.P.S. for law enforcement contexts and incorporating a two-year certification in QPR Gatekeeper training through the QPR Institute, the session will blend theory with practical exercises to engage all participants.
Topics will include key concepts such as recognizing warning signs, effective intervention techniques, and the critical QPR method (Question, Persuade, and Refer). The presentation is designed to be sensitive to participant experiences and perspectives, with a mindful approach to potential triggers and varying levels of prior knowledge. Participants will receive handouts, and a certificate of completion for QPR Gatekeeper training will be emailed to all who successfully finish the session. For more information on the QPR method, please visit the QPR Institute’s official website.
The MCCAAA has created this initiative to give a care package to each officer in the Montgomery County Police Department. Using our donations we purchase items that officers may need in their day to day work, pack bags and drop them off to the officers at their district stations. So far we have given over 200 officers a care package including the Germantown and Bethesda districts. If you would like to participate in this program, please Contact Us.
Session 75 just graduated a few weeks ago with 15 students who were eager to learn about their police department. Seeing how enrollment numbers have been going the past few classes, MCCAAA President Ken Freeman and others stepped up to the recruiting challenge and it has paid off! Session 76 will start May 6th, and it currently has 40 students enrolled. We haven’t had that number of attendees since pre-COVID, so thanks to everyone for all the hard work spreading the word about joining the Citizen Academy. The MCCAAA truly are the best recruiters. The academy is held at the Public Safety Training Academy located at 8751 Snouffer School Road in Gaithersburg.The Montgomery County, Maryland Citizen Academy (CA) began in 1994 and is an extension of the Department’s community policing efforts. Citizen Academy participants learn how the police department works, and gain a better understanding of what the department does and what is required for police officers to effectively perform their duties. Those interested in learning more about the Montgomery County Citizens Academy and applying for future sessions may contact Sergeant John Mullaney at 240-773-6900. Session 77 will run from September to December, so if you know of anyone that might be interested in the course, please have them email the application to citizen.academy@montgomerycountymd.gov.
The Montgomery County Citizen Academy Alumni Association (MCCAAA) is for graduates of the Citizen Academy and holds monthly meetings with speakers on subjects relating to public safety in Montgomery County, Maryland. MCCAAA is a 501 (c)(3) organization, which means it is a charitable organization, eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
MCCAAA holds monthly meetings on the third Thursday of each month, from September through May. Meetings also take place at the Public Service Training Academy, 9751 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg. All meetings begin at 7 pm unless otherwise noted. There are no meetings during the summer.
We elected our MCCAAA officers at our May meeting. Congratulations to our new officers; they are listed with their duties on the Officers page. We thank the Nominating Committee: Eileen Broderick, Diane Platt, and Missi Johns for securing candidates.
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