NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—After Dotty McDonald lost her husband of 51 years, Hank, in 2015, the Newport Beach resident knew she had to keep her mind and body busy. On a suggestion from her Godson, who was then a lieutenant with the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD), McDonald enrolled in the Newport Beach Citizen’s Police Academy. The 12-week, hands-on course was exactly what the then-85-year-old retired nurse was looking for. She relished working alongside police personnel to learn about everything, from SWAT operations to detective investigations. “I fell in love with the program, and the people,” McDonald told The Epoch Times. “It made me young again. Literally, because sometimes I had to run to keep up with the officers.” As soon as she completed the academy courses, McDonald was asked if she’d like to become a regular volunteer, she jumped on the offer. Since then, she’s logged thousands of volunteer hours …