ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Over the past three weekends, 15 people were given an inside look at what it takes to be an officer with the Albemarle County Police Department.

Retired Albemarle County teacher Diane Clark found it was even a harder job than she thought. 

“There is so much that teachers have to do but I mean nothing compared to what these guys do, just nothing,” Clark said. 

Clark’s investigative instinct as a science teacher led her to want to know more about the forensic side and science-based tactics used at ACPD. 

"I like science. So, I really wanted to see some of the forensic stuff, the cybercrime. I wanted to see, you know, the evidence room,” she said. 

And she got to walk away seeing that, and so much more. 

“I learned things like patience and relationships and just how to de-escalate and things that I don't really think law enforcement was like back when I was in high school," Clark said. 

Longtime Albemarle County resident Kurt Burkhart also found that ACPD prioritizes de-escalation. 

“Police in this community are doing everything they can to diffuse volatile situations and show empathy and compassion to the residents here,” 

Each Saturday was divided into different activities including a ride-along, VR training, and meeting ACPD’s K-9 officers before concluding with a certificate ceremony this weekend. 

Burkhart says the county should feel safe with the people in charge. 

“Residents of Albemarle County should be proud of who is serving them,” Burkhart said. 

With a large interest in the academy, ACPD says it hopes to hold another academy in the coming months to allow for more people to get first-hand experience of its practices.