Emeryville Police Department Citizens' Police Academy

 The Emeryville Police Department has found that education has been most effective in gaining understanding and support from the community. The Citizen Police Academy offers citizens insights into how police officers perform their duties and how the department serves the community.
 

Mission of the Academy

The purpose of the Citizen Police Academy is to foster better communication between citizens and police through education. The Academy will create a nucleus of well-informed citizens who possess greater insight into police practices and services. Graduates of the Academy can share their knowledge and experiences with the community as the opportunity arises. Everyone benefits from enhancing citizen understanding of the role and function of their police department.
 

What Is the Purpose of the Academy? 

The Academy is designed to increase understanding between citizens and the police through education. Our intent is to acquaint citizens with law enforcement's role in the criminal justice system, and provide increased understanding of the tasks police officers face in their daily work. With better understanding, it becomes easier for police and citizens to find realistic solutions to neighborhood problems.
 

Where Did the Concept Originate?

The program originated in Orlando, Florida in 1984. Orlando was the first city in the United States to start a Citizen Police Academy.

What Was the Incentive for Establishing a Citizens Police Academy in Emeryville? 

The Emeryville Police Department's philosophy of community oriented policing seeks to create a partnership with our citizens. This philosophy encourages citizens to develop a sense of cooperation with police in our common goal of providing a safe and secure community for all our citizens.
 
The Citizens' Academy is one of several programs that have been developed from the department’s community outreach program. We encourage you to explore some of these programs and become a partner with your police in keeping the city of Emeryville unique and the safe place it is, and can continue to be.

How Is the Class Conducted? 

Citizens meet one night each week from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for 10 weeks. They receive approximately twenty-six hours of classroom instruction by police officers and civilians who supervise or work in each particular division within the police department. The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to those of the regular Police Academy, with a mix of lecture format and scenario / hands-on training. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and to express their views and concerns to members of the Department. Participants will be asked to critique the various instructors as well as the overall academy experience.
 

What Type of Information Is Covered in Class? 

We try to cover just about all areas/divisions of the police department (Traffic, Criminal Investigation Services, Narcotics, Dispatch, K-9, Patrol, etc.) with a particular emphasis on the Patrol Division as that division is the one which the public comes into contact with most often.  
 

What Should I Expect From This Course?

The Emeryville Police Department’s Citizens’ Police Academy (CPA) is a 10-week program intended to provide the participant with an overview of the Police Department’s functions and operational procedures.

The weekly sessions are not intended to train participants to be Police Officers but are intended to help create a citizenry that is both familiar and comfortable with their Police Department.

The classes are taught by officers and civilian employees from throughout the department. Participants will have ample opportunity to speak with various instructors as well as the Command Staff.

Participants will be asked to critique the various instructors as well as the overall academy experience.

How Will the information Obtained in This Course be Used by the Public? 

We believe that an informed public is one that is better able to understand decisions made by the police department. We want them to have enough background to know why the police "do what they do" and we hope the class will break down many barriers between the police and the public.
 

Who Is Eligible to Attend?

You must be at least 18 years of age and live or work in the City of Emeryville.

What’s Expected of the Participants?

Due to the anticipated high number of applicants; we require a commitment to the 10-week program. In order to achieve the full benefit of the program, attendance is critical.

How do You Apply?

You must be at least 18 years old and live, work  or have a child attending a school in the City of Emeryville.  You can fill out an Academy Application  online, pick one up at City Hall or the Police Department. If you have any questions or need more information, call LT Michael Allen at 596-3705.