Police Now Accepting Applications to the 27th Community Police Academy
Published on February 06, 2023
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department is now accepting applications for the 27th Community Police Academy (CPA). The CPA is an educational program designed to strengthen communication and collaboration between police and the community they serve. The goal of the CPA is to increase participant’s knowledge and understanding of how the Arlington County Police Department operates and its role in the community.
“The Community Police Academy provides an invaluable opportunity to enhance police-community relationships through increased communication and transparency,” said Deputy Chief Wayne Vincent. “Through this program, the department aims to share knowledge, effective policing practices and training procedures in an environment that encourages dynamic discussion from all participants with the goal of reaching mutual understanding.”
“The Community Police Academy has changed my views on how much police officers sacrifice themselves for our safety,” said Janeth Valenzuela, a graduate of the 26th Session of the CPA. “To see and hear the experiences of what each officer has gone through earned my respect and support for them. It is a positive training that I highly recommend. It creates a partnership between the police and the community. What I acquired from the sessions and trainings is more than I expected.”
Program Overview
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. 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 effective policing practices, and can ask questions of presenters throughout the program. Some of the topics 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.
Academy Schedule
The CPA is an eight-week program beginning on Thursday, March 2. Classes will take place on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Arlington County Courthouse (1425 N. Courthouse Road). 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 sessions.
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 criminal history check will be conducted on each applicant. Prior arrests and/or convictions do not necessarily prohibit participation in the CPA and each applicant will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 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 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Contact Information
For more information about the CPA, contact Sergeant D. Brooks of the Department’s Community Engagement Division at ACPDCED@arlingtonva.us.