Would you like to learn more about the Police Department and the way in which it serves your community? Would you like to see a K-9 demonstration and go on a ride-along with a patrol officer? Would you like to learn more about the criminal justice system, gangs, investigations, narcotics, the SWAT Team, and much more? If your answer to these questions is "Yes!", and you like to have fun, then the Citizen's Police Academy is for you.  Best of all it's free!!!

What is the Citizen's Police Academy?  The Citizen's Police Academy is a twelve week program designed to provide area residents with first hand information about how the Pinellas Park Police Department operates.  Participation in the Academy requires a commitment of one night per week for a twelve week period.  Classes begin at 6:00 P.M. and end at 9:30 P.M.    What is the purpose of the Academy?  The Academy is designed to increase understanding between citizens and the Police Department through education.  Our intent is to educate citizen's on the challenges that today's law enforcement officers face. With better understanding it is easier for Police and citizen's to find realistic solutions to neighborhood problems.   Who Teaches the Academy Sessions and what Subjects are Included?  The instructors are actual police officers from the Department who teach in their own area of expertise.  Each has years of training and experience. The sessions include demonstrations by the S.W.A.T. Team and K-9 Units, information about domestic violence, gangs, traffic enforcement, community  policing, use of force, internal affairs, investigations, and much more!  The class allows academy students to ride with a patrol officer during a patrol shift so that students can see first hand what officers experience daily.  Students are encouraged to participate in several exercises designed to place students into the shoes of police officers.  These exercises include hands on use of the state of the art Firearm Training Simulator (F.A.T.S.), mock investigations, mock traffic stops, and more.