The concept of the Citizen's Police Academy (C.P.A.) involves a partnership with the citizens of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi Police Department. The benefits of such a partnership can only help strengthen the entire community in terms of public safety and quality of life.
A police agency cannot be effective without the trust of its citizens. The Citizen Police Academy program builds that trust. Through education, it provides a bridge between the officer in the car and the citizens in the field. Citizens will gain an appreciation of the problems and challenges facing law enforcement and have an opportunity to offer comments and ideas regarding solutions. Those citizens then become the police department's "goodwill ambassadors" throughout the community.
As a result graduates are better equipped to assess safety issues, and share with others their knowledge of law enforcement practices and policies.
There are several hands-on exercises and, at the end of the program, you will participate in role play exercises and make decisions as a police officer would. You will also be signed up for a 4-hour "Tour of Duty" and ride with an officer to see first-hand what happens on the street.