Citizens Police Academy To Be Underway Next Month

PALO ALTO, CA -- Get in thick with the thin blue line. The city police department is now accepting applications for its next Basic Citizens Police Academy, which runs from January to March 2019.

The Basic Citizens Police Academy is an eight-week course designed to foster increased understanding and communication between community members and the police. Instructors are public safety employees who will cover patrol procedures, laws of arrest, search and seizure, community relations, criminal investigations, evidence collection, police accountability, use of force and officer safety and disaster preparedness, among other topics. Students are also able to go on a ride-along with a patrol officer.

The Citizens Police Academy offers participants detailed insight into how the department
operates and how it serves the community. It creates well-informed community members
who possess greater knowledge of police practices and services.

The Citizens Police Academy is slated for Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at various city of Palo Alto facilities. The session begins on January 30 and ends on March 20. A kick-off is scheduled for Jan. 28. The free class is limited to 25 students. Applications for this session are due by Jan. 3. Applicants must be at least 14 years old and live or work in Palo Alto or the immediate surrounding communities. Participants cannot have any felony convictions or any misdemeanors within the past year. They must also successfully complete a criminal background check.

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