The Community Police Academy (formerly Citizens Police Academy) is designed to give people a glimpse behind the badge and provide information about training, policies and the many units and divisions within the Fairfax County Police Department.
Toward that end, the FCPD is now accepting applications for the Spring 2024 Community Police Academy session that’ll meet from March 14 to May 18, as well as for the Fall 2024 session meeting from Sept. 12 to Nov. 16.
Participants will learn about topics including Police Training (including weapons and driving), Crime Scene Investigation, Use of Force, Traffic Stops, Internal Affairs, Police Helicopter Capabilities, and SWAT.
Classes will be held on nine consecutive Thursday nights, from 6:30-10 p.m. The final class, which includes graduation, is held on a Saturday from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Classes rotate to various police department facilities around Fairfax County. Due to the popularity of the program, all participants are required to attend at least eight of the classes to successfully graduate.
Attendees must be at least 18 years old, live or work in Fairfax County, must clear a review of their criminal record and police contact history, prior to acceptance. They must also provide their own transportation.
The FCPD seeks people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds when selecting participants for its Community Police Academy. Candidates from different ethnicities, professions, cultural backgrounds, orientations, age groups and communities throughout Fairfax County are encouraged to apply to enrich class discussions and strengthen community relationships.
This program is not an accredited certification course to become a sworn police officer. For information regarding employment as a police officer or about the paid police academy, please visit https://joinfcpd.org. For more information about the Community Police Academy, email CPA@fairfaxcounty.gov.