The Value of Citizen Police Academies

Sept. 18, 2014
Now More Than Ever Departments Need to Embrace Citizen Police Academies

The relationship between the community and the police has always been an uneasy one.  In an otherwise “free” society law enforcement officers are perceived to have a great deal of power and our day to day job is largely misunderstood.  Social media, cop shows, and the 24 hour cable news cycle add to the confusion and help to widen the divide between police officers and their citizens.  Politics also plays a role; people on the “right” may see cops as an extension of an increasingly intrusive government, while those on the “left” may perceive the police as “the man” who wants to take away their freedoms and/or brutalize the downtrodden.  Fictional police shows on television create an unrealistic expectation of our skills and abilities, and cable news “experts” dissect a cop’s every move with little or no actual expertise.  Now more than ever we need to foster a better understanding between cops and those we have taken an oath to protect, and one of the most effective ways for any department to accomplish that is with a Citizen Police Academy. 

One of my favorite law enforcement experiences was being a part of my department’s citizen police academy program, or “CPA.”  I was already working with citizen volunteers through our Community Radio Watch group and our Police Explorer post, so CPA seemed like a natural addition to our programming.  My agency’s command staff was very supportive and involved and this proved to be essential to our program’s success. Eventually I became involved in the National Citizen Police Academy Association and was a presenter at several of their conferences.   If you are thinking about starting a CPA or revamping your current one, here are a few things to think about:

Student Selection:  If you are starting your CPA program from scratch, consider hand-selecting your first class from community members that will give you honest and detailed feedback.  This first group of people will be essential in helping you develop a successful program.  Reach out to community activists, clergy, school personnel, the business community, individuals in the media, youth leaders and more.  Make sure you have everyone from young people to senior citizens involved, and invite a police spouse, partner or parent from your own agency to get involved.  Background checks should be a requirement and you must be cautious of allowing police “wanna-be’s” to attend.  CPA is not a program designed to create cops; its purpose is to provide citizens with the knowledge to understand how your department conducts business and to be able to relate that effectively to others.  After the conclusion of your first session, open your CPA to the community with an application process and make sure your criteria is in writing. 

Budgeting:  CPA can be a relatively inexpensive program, but you’ll still need to budget for things like materials, refreshments, and possible overtime pay for presenters.  It’s nice to give your attendees some departmental “swag” like a coffee mug, a patch, a t-shirt, something they can keep and something to help spark conversation with their family members and co-workers.  Polo shirts, hoodies or t-shirts are also popular, and often attendees will pay for their own or a local business will sponsor giveaways. A class photo and a certificate of completion is a must. 

Internal Support:  Do not expect every member of your department to be thrilled about your citizen police academy.  Many law enforcement personnel are suspicious of citizens who want to learn the “trade secrets” of our job, or they just don’t want to be bothered with “outsiders.”   If you’re just beginning, a CPA is something you’ll need to “sell” to the agency.  All personnel, sworn and civilian, should be informed about the program and if possible, have some input into the curriculum.  Explain to them how CPA will benefit them by creating citizen “cheerleaders” for the agency.  Ask that everyone in the agency treat your CPA attendees and alumni with respect and courtesy.  

Curriculum:  Set your curriculum carefully.  Do it according to need and interest, not departmental politics, and keep it flexible.  There are many aspects of police work that you’ll want to touch on in your presentations, but deadly force decision making should be a core element of any CPA.  Combine policy and legal aspects with practical knowledge, such as simulator training and/or time on the range.  The more “hand on” the presentations can be the better.  Use resources like dash cam and training videos to “teach by storytelling” and hold the interest of your attendees.

Presenters:  Have as many different presenters as practical, but give each at least an hour.  Help your presenters structure their presentations to stay within time limitations while giving your attendees the maximum amount of information.  This is easier said than done and it takes effort, practice and good communication between the CPA coordinators and the presenters.  For example, just because someone is a great homicide investigator does not mean they know how to relay their knowledge and enthusiasm in a classroom setting.  Make sure your presenters understand that they are to talk about the job, not necessarily themselves.  Preview their PowerPoints and other visual aids for appropriateness and impact, and make sure they allow time for questions. 

Social Media:  Social media is a great tool for Citizen Police Academies.  Start a Facebook page just for your CPA attendees and alumni.  Post weekly photos on Instagram and use Twitter to create buzz about various topics.  As with all social media, however, proceed with caution!  Set rules for the classroom use of smart phones and cameras.  I would not allow presentations to be videotaped by attendees but having a departmental videographer tape the presentation is always a good idea. I would ask that photos be screened by the CPA coordinators before attendees post them on social media. 

Reach Out:  There are many resources available to create or revitalize a Citizen Police Academy.  Get involved in your regional or the national CPA association and reach out to police departments in your area who already have successful programs.  Find out what worked and what was challenging.  That old cliché is true: don’t reinvent the wheel when you don’t have to. 

Citizen Police Academy is a proven asset that can create a wonderful bridge between law enforcement and the community we serve.  Each session sends the equivalent of “police evangelists” out into the community who will help correct the stereotypes and dispel the negative myths about police officers.  And now more than ever, we need our citizens as much as they need us.

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