Police Now Accepting Applications to the 26th Community Police Academy
Published on January 07, 2022
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department is now accepting applications for the 26th Community Police Academy (CPA), formerly the Citizen’s Police Academy. The CPA is an educational program designed to create better understanding and communication between police and the community they serve. The intent of the CPA is to make participants aware of how the Arlington County Police Department operates and its role in the community.
“The Community Police Academy is an integral part of our efforts to foster mutual understanding between our department and the community we serve,” said Deputy Chief Wayne Vincent. “The CPA provides an opportunity to share our training, experiences, and best practices, in an environment where we can engage in meaningful discussion with participants and listen and learn from their experiences.”
Through an immersive, multi-week experience, participants will gain knowledge and understanding of how police officers are trained, their daily work environment, and the wide scope of work they perform in service to the Arlington community. The program includes lectures, panel discussions, question and answer sessions, and hands-on experiences, including a special session at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. Some of the topics of covered in the CPA curriculum include recruitment, legal considerations, use of force, mental health, interventions, homeless outreach, community and youth outreach, criminal investigations, the K9 unit, tactical operations, and patrol operations.
Program Information
The CPA is an eight-week program beginning on Thursday, March 3. Classes are presented by Departmental leadership, sworn and civilian staff from across the agency and government partners. Participants will engage in thought-provoking discussions, including those about current events and best practices in law enforcement, and can ask questions of presenters throughout the program.
Classes will take place on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Arlington County Trades Center (2700 S. Taylor Street). One session will take place on a Saturday at an off-site location, outside of Arlington County. To receive a graduation certificate, participants must attend at least six out of eight sessions. Participants will be required to wear a mask and social distancing protocols will be in place. Should local public health mandates change, the program may shift to a virtual format, however, every effort will be made to safely hold sessions in-person.
Applicants
Interested applicants must be at least 18 years old and should live, work, attend school, or be otherwise affiliated or engaged with Arlington community organizations. Due to the nature of the material covered in the CPA, a background check will be completed on each applicant. Class size is limited, and every effort will be made to maintain a balanced enrollment reflective of Arlington’s diverse community. Online applications are due no later than Friday, February 14, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
Complete the Online Application
Contact Information
For more information about the CPA, contact Sergeant J. Senn of the Department’s Community Outreach Unit at ACPDSouthOutreach@arlingtonva.us.