The Waukesha Police Department’s Bilingual Citizens Police Academy has received the attention from a state law enforcement organization.

The Waukesha Police Department received the Program of the Year 2011 from the Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association, according to a memo from Police Chief Russell Jack to the Waukesha Police & Fire Commission.

The police department has conducted two Spanish-speaking courses over a period of four weeks to allow the Hispanic community to learn more about the law enforcement in the city.

“The purpose of the academy is to further promoted positive relations with the Hispanic community the city of Waukesha,” Jack said in the memo.

The city’s partners in the program are La Casa de Esperanza and the bilingual education department in the Waukesha School District. The class is coordinated by Police Officer Greg Jonas with the help of Specialist Servando Benitez and Police Officer Jose Arellano.

Jack and Jonas received the award on Thursday in Lake Geneva.