St. Louis County Citizen Police Academy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Citizen Police Academy?
A Citizen Police Academy is an educational and informative program that allows citizens
the opportunity to learn about the issues that face law enforcement efforts in their community.
The program helps local residents better understand police work in their community,
and develops stronger ties between the community and police department.
What is the objective of a Citizen Police Academy program?
Community-based policing is an important and vital aspect of crime control in any community.
It’s all about the police actively working with the community to prevent crime, and create a safer environment.
The Citizen Police Academy program is yet another mechanism for local and county law enforcement agencies to
inform the public of what they do, improve communication, and obtain citizen input, assistance, and support
throughout the community by sharing information.
What are some of the benefits of conducting a Citizen Police Academy?
The objective of a Citizen Police Academy program is not to train individuals
to be reserve police officers, but to produce informed citizens.
The citizens and police officers meet each other face-to-face in a neutral,
friendly setting, and each becomes a person to the other.
In the past, citizens have simply seen a uniform, now they
have an understanding about the person behind the badge.
What are some of the goals of a Citizen Police Academy?
The goals of a Citizen Police Academy program can include providing stronger citizen-police relationships,
enhancing lines of communication, and the reduction of crime in the community.
What are some of the benefits of conducting a Citizen Police Academy?
The role of the police has always been of interest to the average citizen.
The television media has capitalized upon this curiosity with shows such as “Cops,”
“America’s Most Wanted,” and “CSI.” Each week, real police action is broadcast into the living rooms
of millions of Americans.
Numerous police agencies have also benefitted from the curiosity
that citizens have about the police. These agencies have formed Citizen Police Academy
programs that create an expansion of their community-based policing efforts.
Here are a few of the benefits of a Citizen Police Academy program:
Citizens gain a better understanding of how their police department works.
Opens the lines of communication between the community and the police department.
Citizens and police officers have an opportunity to work closely together.
Citizens gain the ability to make informed decisions regarding controversial issues facing the community
and become aware of problems facing their police department.
Enhanced involvement with the police department.
Graduates interested in continuing the “partnership” that develops in a
Citizens Police Academy continue their involvement by joining various
law enforcement-related Volunteer Programs such as:
Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association
Citizens on Patrol
Community Emergency Response Team
Neighborhood Watch
Volunteers in Police Service
