You know the Apple Valley Municipal Center, right there on 147th street, yeah that one. Well the other day there were three kids sitting there on their bikes and I saw one of them eating an ice cream cone.  But, I digress, the important thing to remember is that May is Bike Safety Month. So the  Apple Valley Police want to make sure that kids are riding safely this summer. They are hosting a Bike Safety Rodeo. The Bike Safety Rodeo will be on May 19th and includes a skills course, bike equipment check, bike safety quiz and prizes.

 The rodeo is co-sponsored by Mcdonalds, which, I ate a lot when I was a kid and I still love. It will be held at the Apple Valley Community Center( 14603 Hayes Road on Sat. May 19th from 9:00AM-11:00AM. See you there

The Apple Valley Police Department sponsors a Citizens Academy in the late winter/early spring of the year. The eight-week academy is offered to Apple Valley residents and business people. The objective of the academy is to advance a better understanding of policing in Apple Valley and to foster a closerrelationship and partnership with the community.

Topics covered over the course of the academy are drunk and drugged driving, school programs, domestic assault, investigations, SWAT operations, Dakota County Drug Task Force, use of force issues, and crime prevention. In addition to lecture presentations, participants ride with an officer, participate in and observe the DWI arrest process, and experience mock traffic stops.

There are no fees associated with the Academy. Limited registration is open to anyone over the age of 18 who either lives or works in Apple Valley and has not attended an Apple Valley Citizens Academy within the last 5 years. Criminal background checks will be conducted on all applicants.

The 2007 course will meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. starting on April 4th and running through May 16th.

Teen Police Academy. The Apple Valley Police Department is hosting its third Teen Police Academy in 2007. The Academy provides an inside look at the operation and services of the police department. Topics for the five-week course will include DUI enforcement, routine traffic stops, judicial process, police investigations, communications/ 911, crime scene investigation and many more. There are no fees associated with the Academy and registration is open to anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 who either lives or attends high school in Apple Valley.

For more information, please contact the Police Department

at (952) 953-2700.