Click here to go there. The Oklahoma City Police Department wanted to educate their citizens to the many duties of their police officers and to provide insights as to how the criminal justice system operated from a policing perspective. They have now graduated 7 classes since the beginning with an enrollment of several hundred people. It has been a very successful program. The people who attend the Citizen Police Academy learn about the methods and difficulties of policing, in a modern society, where the profession is ever-changing with its' officers having to adapt to changing laws, public attitudes and performance expectations.
Citizens receive a condensed version of many of the classes given to police recruits.
The courses are straightforward and unedited, with a concern for reality as opposed to minimizing for the many sensitivities in our society. The program is an eye-opening, informative and excellent opportunity for citizens to learn about their community and those who protect and serve them. Graduating members of the Citizen Academy are able to join a very active Alumni Association where they become involved in departmental activities, if they so desire. Each graduating class member is able to choose what level of involvement in which he or she would like to participate. The Alumni Association has elected officers and hold formal monthly meetings at different locations within the Police Department.