Citizens’ Police Academy and CPAAAN

The Citizens’ Police Academy is a program designed to provide Norfolk residents first-hand information about how their police department works and develop partnerships with the citizens to help make the City of Norfolk a strong, safe community. This program has continued to increase in popularity; more than 900 citizens have received training in the Academy, which requires the commitment of one night a week for a 12-week period.

To enroll in the academy, participants must: be 18 years of age or older, complete an application for enrollment, and pass a limited background investigation. Applications are available by contacting the Norfolk Police Training Unit at 757-664-6902.

Classes include topics such as patrol techniques, terrorism, domestic violence and child abuse investigations, dispatch center operations, traffic enforcement and DUI procedures, use of force, criminal investigations, narcotics investigations, and forensics and crime scene investigations. Learning is reinforced by practical exercises.

Upon graduation from the academy, citizens have the opportunity to join CPAAAN, the Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association of Norfolk, whose mission is “to support law enforcement in Norfolk, Virginia through education, information, networking, community service and volunteerism.” CPAAAN members are very active within their communities and assist the police department during the Citizens’ Police Academy sessions as well as with a variety of other events such as the Basic Recruit Academy graduation ceremonies.

For more information on the Citizen’s Police Academy, contact the Norfolk Police Training Unit.

Visit the CPAAAN.org website.