The Port of Seattle Police Department is offering a unique opportunity to learn about the many challenges facing local law enforcement.

It's called "Citizen's Academy" and consists of a once a week, 10-week program offered at Sea-Tac International Airport.

The Port operates the airport.

The purpose of the academy is to develop positive relations between Port police and the community at large. Graduates form a growing nucleus of responsible, well-informed citizens who appreciate the problems and challenges facing local law enforcement, according to Port officials.

Classes will be held Thursdays, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Sept. 11 through Nov. 13.

Police officers and civilian personnel who are experts in their fields teach the classes.

Each instructor has years of training and street experience, providing insights not ordinarily available to those outside the department.

__Subjects include patrol, community policing, recruitment and training, domestic violence, narcotics, dispatch, investigations, crimes scene analysis, SWAT, explosive detection and narcotics detection, K-9, and the bomb squad.

The series is free of charge.

For more information or to enroll e-mail Port Police Officer Dan Breed at breed.d@portseattle.org.