The Citizens' Police Academy is a group of citizens who are interested in learning more about how the police department operates and the policing challenges our city faces. Participants in each session commit to meeting for three hours one night per week, for ten weeks, to learn about each aspect of the department.

The purpose of the Hagerstown Citizens' Police Academy is to develop positive relations between the police and community through education. The goals are to create a growing nucleus of responsible, well-informed citizens who have the potential of influencing public opinions about police practices and services. Citizens will gain an appreciation of the problems and challenges facing law enforcement and have an opportunity to offer comments and ideas regarding solutions.

Instructors are officers and personnel from the department who speak on their areas of expertise, as well as specialized guest speakers.

Participants must be at least juniors in high school or older. They do not have to be Hagerstown residents, but an interest in the city or an interest in law enforcement is helpful. Participants are chosen at the discretion of the Academy Coordinator.

Subjects covered in the CPA are:

• Administration
• Criminal Investigation
• Juvenile Crime
• Recruitment and Training
• Patrol Operations and Arrest Procedures
• Firearms (with range time)
• Special Response Team
• K-9 (with demonstration)
• Traffic Enforcement
• Communication
• Crime Prevention
• Crime Lab
• Narcotics Enforcement
• Officer Safety
• Community Policing
• D.A.R.E.
• Professional Standards
• Arson Investigation
• Living with a Badge

At the completion of the academy, graduates will be able to participate in the ride-along program.

If you are interested in becoming a participant in the next Citizens' Police Academy, contact Off. Randy Rourke at 301-739-8577, ext. 272.