About the Citizens' Academy

The FALL 2009 Citizen's Police Academy will be taking applications for this academy session. You can download a Citizens or Youth Academy Application from our site here. ( .pdf format). You will be contacted to confirm enrollment as dates are announced.

The Citizen’s Police Academy is a 13 week program held March 10th, 2009 through June 2nd, 2009.

The classes are held on Tuesday nights from 6pm-8:30pm. Class size is limited to 40 participants, and is free of charge.

Some of the general topics discussed are:

  • Hands on demonstrations from K-9, SWAT and the Bomb Disposal Unit
  • Crime Scene Processing ( Learn to dust for fingerprints)
  • High Tech Crimes Unit will discuss child dangers of the internet & computer & Technology crime overview
  • Shoot, Don’t Shoot simulator (F.A.T.S. simulator)
  • Crime Prevention (Identity theft, Personal Safety, Home Safety)
  • Narcotics Enforcement
  • Patrol Operations
  • Communications
  • Jail Operation ( Both the County Jail and Juvenile Justice Center)

Potential candidates for the Citizens Police Academy must meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum age of 18 years old
  • No prior felony convictions (Certain Misd. offenses may disqualify you also)
  • Subject to criminal history check

    You are NOT required to be a City of South Bend resident to enroll in the CPA.

    2007 CPA Academy class Graduation session.

History of the SBPD Citizens' Academy

The first Citizens' Police Academy was held on April  21, 1998. At the completion of the fall 2008 class, total to date alumni graduates number over 800 citizens. During 2008, There Were 93 Graduates From The Three Different Academies · Two adult academies, one Spring and one Fall, had 45 graduates following the completion of the thirteen week course.

Presenters and Instructors Breakdown:

  • 49 individual SBPD officers made themselves available to educate the community citizens on various aspects of the department.
  • 7 SBPD civilians or those from outside agencies/organizations assisted in various roles during the each academy.
  • 3 members of the SJC Prosecutor's Office also assisted in making presentations during the course of the two academies.

The YOUTH Academy had 28 student graduates (one 6 day week academy). Activities included:

  • Oversaw the making of Youth Public Service Announcement commercial on ending school bullying.
  • Presenters and Instructors Breakdown: 27 individual SBPD officers made themselves available to educate the high school student on various aspects of the department.
  • 5 SBPD civilians or those from outside agencies/organizations assisted in various roles during this academy.
  • 3 members of the SJC Prosecutor's Office also assisted in making presentations during the course of the two academies

A total of 749 community citizens have graduated from the South Bend Citizens Police Academies since it's inception in Spring of 1998 through December 2007.


SBPD CPA HISTORY
The first Citizen's Police Academy was held on April 21, 1998. On September 7, 1999 the fourth Academy class was held with an enrollment of 32 community members. At the completion of this current class, total to date alumni graduates number over 400 citizens. These graduates then become members of the alumni association and in turn take on the roles as "Good Will Ambassadors" to pass on the knowledge to others in the community of their experiences through the Police Academy.

The Citizen's Police Academy is a look into the values, philosophy, and operation of the South Bend Police Department. The purpose of the Citizen's Police Academy is to increase understanding of law enforcement's duties and responsibilities which can foster cooperative problem solving between the South Bend Police Department and the Community.

There is no charge for the classes, which are designed to give citizens a taste of the training police officers are provided before they are assigned to duty. The Citizen's Police Academy is designed for the residents of South Bend. The Academy educates citizens about the 'how's and why's' of the police, and the citizen's role in the Community Oriented Policing philosophy.

Students are expected to share this realistic view of the Division with other citizens to improve the efficiency of law enforcement and order maintenance in their neighborhoods through shared responsibilities and resources. The Citizen's Police Academy exists to provide information to the citizens who attend, so they may make informed judgments about the South Bend Police Department, and police activity.

Understanding can dispel suspicions and misconceptions, and increase police/community rapport through this educational process. The police, in turn, become more aware of the feelings and concerns of the community through input from the students. This will help to establish open lines of communication and cooperation in our shared goal of achieving the best police service for the citizens of South Bend.

WHEN & WHERE:
The 10-week classes are conducted at the South Bend Police Department, 701 West Sample St, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Comments from members of past Citizen's Academy classes: "I wish every citizen could take this class...informative, enlightening, fun...worthwhile investment of time and energy...very educational...(the class shows) its not like on television...the training that the officer goes through gives me an even greater respect for law enforcement officers."