Fountain Inn PD Opens Its Doors
March 25, 2026
Running through mid-May, the Fountain Inn Police Department is inviting residents to pull back the curtain on local law enforcement through its 2026 Citizen Police Academy — a free, eight-week program that has become one of the department’s most meaningful community-building efforts.
The academy meets Tuesday evenings from March 24 through May 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fountain Inn Municipal Court at 300 Wall Street. The curriculum is hands-on and wide-ranging — covering criminal investigations and evidence gathering, traffic enforcement, K-9 operations, constitutional law, victim assistance resources, and officer safety practices. Participants won’t just sit through lectures; they’ll hear directly from the officers who handle these responsibilities every day.
One of the session highlights will be meeting the department’s K-9 team — nationally certified narcotics detection dogs Chops and Deuce and their handlers — who will demonstrate exactly how these highly trained partnerships support public safety operations across the city.
The academy also spotlights the department’s community programs: the Neighborhood Watch, Senior Watch, Youth Summer Camps, the Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, the Superhero 5K for Autism, and the Annual Police Golf Tournament. For Chief Patrick Fortenberry, that community fabric is the whole point.
The program is open to any interested resident. Registration is required. For more information or to sign up, visit fountaininn.org/391/Citizen-Police-Academy or contact Major Chad Richardson at [email protected] or 864-531-0604.
