Citizen Police Academy

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A Message From the Police Chief

The Gainesville Police Department sponsors the Citizen Police Academy with the goal of educating the citizens of Gainesville about the operations of the Department.  The Academy was developed with the belief that education is the key to understanding and with understanding comes a more open line of communication.

At the Citizen Police Academy, you will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes to see and hear first hand the tremendous curriculum recruits must master before they can wear the uniform.

Your instructors will be real police officers and operations supervisors. They will take you on an accelerated overview of the various operations of the Police Department.

It’s our goal to increase understanding of police work and to develop effective partnership with the community.

Please join us and be a part of this important effort.

The only investment on your part is three hours a week for 10 weeks. What you’ll learn in turn will not only benefit you, but if shared with family, neighbors, friends and co-workers, could have a significant impact on community/police relations.

What is the Citizen Police Academy?

The Gainesville Police Department Citizen Police Academy is a 30 hour block of instruction designed to give the public a working knowledge of the Gainesville Police Department’s personnel and policies. It consist of a series of classes held once each week for three hours. The instruction is comprehensive, covering a different area of the Police Department each week.

What Topics are Covered?

  • Communications/911
  • “Ride Along” with an Officer
  • Patrol Procedures
  • Penal & Traffic Law
  • Narcotics
  • Gangs
  • Criminal Investigation
  • “CSI”

Instruction in these and other areas will consist of lectures, demonstrations, tours and hands-on.

Purpose?

 The Citizen Police Academy shows citizens how the Gainesville Police Department operates. We hope a better understanding of how your Police Department works will improve the relationship between citizens and officers.

Who May Attend?

The class is made up of a cross section of the Gainesville/Cooke County community. Doctors, architects, homemakers, laborers, retirees, students, secretaries, bankers and others are encouraged to apply for admission. You must be at least 18 years of age to enroll and live or work in the Cooke County area. The academy is free!

Alumni Association

Graduates of the Citizen Police Academy have formed an Alumni Association which is open to all past and future graduates. The alumni continue to work with the Gainesville Police Department through volunteering, special projects and events.

Contact Captain Tom Reynolds for additional information at:
(940) 668-4760 or  crimeprevention@gvps.org

Download an application today!

(Right click on link and select "save as")
Gainesville Citizen Academy application

Submit your completed application in-person or by e-mail at crimeprevention@gvps.org

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