CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Applications are open for Charlottesville Police Department’s Community Police Academy.

When Chief Michael Kochis was sworn in in January, he said one of his goals was to regain the community's trust. To do that, he started programs like weekly walk-and-talks in various neighborhoods.

CPD representative Kyle Ervin said the program, which was last run in 2017, takes the mission further.

"We've got a personal touch with the community. We work with the community every single day 24/7. We're there to respond to calls, and they see us, but they may not know what goes on in the department, or they may not know what the life of a police officer is like," he said.

CPD is accepting 15 community members into the program.

Department staff, including Kochis, will teach weekly classes and take participants on ride-alongs.

"Give them an inside look as to our special units, our divisions inside of the the department patrol, traffic canine units," Ervin said.

To qualify you must be 18 and be a city resident or work in the city.

The program goes from Oct. 25 to Dec. 20.

"We're hoping that graduates come out of this with a new outlook and they may even go on to become a police officer and pursue a career in law enforcement themselves," Ervin said.

Applications are due Oct. 6