Southington PD Unveils Plans For First-Ever 'Citizens Police Academy'

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local police earlier this month announced a new program in the spring that will allow participants an up-close-and-personal look at police work.

The Southington Police Department will have its first-ever "Citizens Police Academy" in April 2026.

SPD officer Judemayer Medena unveiled the program's details before the Southington Board of Police Commissioners at its last meeting on Dec. 11.

While other departments regularly host once-a-year or, sometimes, twice-a-year citizens academies, this will be the SPD's first foray into this popular community policing practice.

Academies like this usually give participants a behind-the-scenes look at police work, along with some basic training methods and lessons on what police do on the job.

According to Medena, Southington's new academy will start April 7, 2026, and run for 10 weeks in the SPD's community room at SPD headquarters on Lazy Lane.

For the next 10 weeks, the academy will meet from 6 to 9 p.m., with three SPD officers instructing.

The inaugural group will be restricted to 20 total participants, who will complete a four-hour ride-along with an officer as part of the program.

"This will allow the police department to continue to develop a community-first approach to policing with thehope that, at the end of the academy, the participants will be advocates for the police department," said Medena to the board.

For the minutes of the Dec. 11 Southington Board of Police Commissioners, click on this link.