Police recruits participate in training to successfully complete the state certified Police Officer
Training Academy. Police Recruit academy training lasts approximately 6 months and consists of classroom, physical
fitness, and police situation simulation training. Police Recruits attend the academy Monday - Friday 8am-5pm. Training times
are changed from time to time for various training elements such as night firing of the pistol, night driving, and other
scenarios. The Norfolk Police Academy is not a Residential/Barracks academy, recruits commute daily between their residence
and the academy.
CLASSROOM – Students receive quality classroom instruction in such areas as Basic Law,
Criminal Investigation, Report Writing, and other law enforcement related topics. Students receive periodic testing
to assess their success in learning classroom materials. Students must meet or exceed minimum standards established
by the police academy and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
PHYSICAL FITNESS – Students receive intense and rigorous physical training
related to fitness and health standards on a daily basis as needed to perform the sometimes physically
demanding aspects of law enforcement. Training includes: Running a minimum of three times a week for distances
up to five miles • Daily exercise will include: Various forms of abdominal exercises • Various forms of push-ups •
Sit-ups • Pull-ups • Mountain Climbers • Biceps and Triceps Exercises • Stretches/Flexibility Training • Other Strength
and Aerobics Conditioning.
Students participate in a Physical Fitness Test during the 1st, 8th, 17th, and final
week of the academy. This test involves a 1.5 mile timed run, maximum number of sit-ups in one minute, and maximum number of
push-ups to exhaustion.
POLICE SITUATION SIMULATION TRAINING – Defensive Driving •Defensive Tactics •Firearms
Sound exciting? – There is much more to learn about the Norfolk Police Department and all it
has to offer you!
