In order to be more effective in Community Oriented Policing, the Anne Arundel County Police Department developed the Citizens’ Police Academy. The Citizens’ Police Academy focuses on all communities and strives to obtain a very diverse student base. The sessions are held once a week and are 3 hours long. There are 14 sessions total. The last session is a graduation where each student is awarded a certificate of completion.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department initiated the Citizens’ Police Academy in 1993 and has held annual sessions each year. The goal of the Citizens’ Police Academy is to provide the community with a better understanding of the department and develop a partnership with the community members through education. The objectives of the program range from providing the community members with knowledge of laws to enhancing the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s training pertaining to citizen contact.
There are several benefits to the Citizens’ Police Academy. Quality of life is a major issue for everyone in today’s society. The Citizens’ Police Academy gives the citizens of Anne Arundel County a very effective tool to improve their quality of life. The Anne Arundel County Police Department also benefits from the Academy by developing a trust with the members of the communities that it serves. The Citizens’ Police Academy also provides the Department with another avenue for recruitment.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department continues to strive to meet the needs of the citizens of the county and as a result, the Department has developed the Citizens’ Police Academy. The Academy remains as innovative tool to develop and maintain a trusting partnership with the communities that it serves.
Students have no cost for participating in this program, but they will graduate with a wealth of knowledge. Contact the following members of the academy staff for information and registration applications.
