The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will host a free, 12-week Citizens Academy Class to give residents a better understanding of the workings of the police department.

The classes will meet 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays from March 7 to May 23 at the St. Louis Police Academy, 315 N. Tucker Blvd.

Classes will cover topics including the department's history and structure, predicting crime patterns, gang intelligence, homicide investigations, and community policing techniques. Students also will interact with police canines, the police bomb robot, tour the 911 call center and use the driving and shooting simulators.

Applications for the program can be found on www.slmpd.org, and will be available online until Feb. 22. Applicants must be St. Louis city residents or business owners, be at least 18 years of age, have no outstanding arrest warrants ,and agree to a criminal background check.

For information, call (314) 444-5638 or email citizensacademy@slmpd.org.