The Santa Monica Police Department periodically offers a Citizen Police Academy, a program which provides an inside look at local police work. The 12-week program, one night per week for three hours, gives participants an overview of the department’s functions, responsibilities and operational procedures. Classes are taught by police officers, police executives and highly specialized non-sworn employees of the SMPD.
The latest installment of the Citizen Academy will begin on Wednesday, February 21. Included in the course are demonstrations, discussions, lectures and personal participation in mock exercises. Units involved include the Defensive Tactics Team, Special Entry Team, K-9, Traffic Enforcement and Internal Affairs. Participants will also get to tour the Public Safety Facility, where a majority of the classes will be held.
Enrollment is open to anyone over the age of 21, who lives, works or attends school in Santa Monica. Applications will be accepted until February 9, or until the class is full. To obtain an application or to ask questions, please call the Santa Monica Police Department’s Community Relations Unit at 310.458.8474.
It should be noted that the Department’s brochure specifies: “Citizen Police Academy classes are in no way designed to train participants to act as law enforcement officers.”
