Apply for the Pittsburgh Citizen's Police Academy

Want to learn about the police force in Pittsburgh? Sign up for a weekly class to join 29 of your fellow Pittsburghers for a look at how the Pittsburgh police force works.

Classes start Tuesday, February 4, 2014 and meet every Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for 15 weeks. The class meets at Pittsburgh Police Training Academy at 1395 Washington Boulevard in the Highland Park/East Liberty neighborhood of the City.

Applications are due by January 28, 2014

Download the application here.

From the City of Pittsburgh website:

Twice a year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The Pittsburgh Citizen’s Police Academy brings the police and the community close together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant.

Participants receive three hours of training one evening each week in many of the varied functions of law enforcement. They experience some of the highlights of police training and are exposed to the operations of the police bureau. Participants are taught the basics of criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, firearms and many other subjects. They learn about the processing of a crime scene, how police canines are used, and are exposed to many of the specialty police units. CPA participants meet and talk with many of the street officers as well as the command staff and training staff that serves them. All this takes place in a safe and entertaining training environment.

Instructors are law enforcement professionals who teach both veteran and recruit police officers. Students leave this training with a greater understanding of the police mission and with an increased ability to see how the police serve the community.

This program is not an accredited certification course to become a sworn police officer.

Class size is limited to 30 participants. All interested persons must give permission for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to conduct a background check to determine if they have a criminal record.

Pittsburgh author Mary Sutton, who has authored crime fiction books and writes the blog There is a Body in the Library, attended the Citizens Police Academy last year and wrote about her experiences here.