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Waco Police Department

Citizens Police Academy

Next Training Session: August 7, 2008
Registration Deadline: July 31, 2008

33rd Citizens Police Academy Class

To apply, fill out the application at the bottom of this page. To ask questions, call Estella Lopez (254) 750-1764.

The Citizens Police Academy is an educational program designed to give the public a working knowledge of the Waco Police Department's personnel and policies. The academy consists of a series of classes held one night each week for 2 1/2 hours. The instruction is comprehensive, covering a different area of the police department each week.

Class Topics

The Waco Police Department

Students will learn the history of the Waco Police Department and the requirements in becoming a police officer.

 

Traffic Stops

Students will learn the dangers an officer faces during a routine traffic stop. A scenario is setup so that students will be able to experience what an officer faces each day.

Gun Range

Students will experience realistic re-enactments of "Shoot or Don't Shoot" situations on the FATS System (Fire Arms Training Simulator).

Students will have hands-on experiences with different types of weapons used by our S.W.A.T. Team. They will also be shown the different types of gear and devices used during raids.

Building Searches

The S.W.A.T. Unit will show students how to make entry in a building when searching for a suspect(s).

Police Negotiators

Students will learn about police negotiations.

Crime Scene

Our Crime Scene Unit will teach students how to dust and lift fingerprints. Students will also visit our Crime Lab and will see how evidence is processed.

Crime Prevention

Citizens will learn how to better secure their homes from crime.

Dispatch

Students will tour our Police Dispatch and become familiar with how calls are handled and prioritized.

 

Self Defensive Tactics

Officers will demonstrate self defensive tactics.

Other Topics

Students will learn about Sex Offender Registration, where and why they need to register, and what happens if they violate their requirements. Students will also learn about the K-9 Unit, Family Violence, Drug Enforcement, Gang Activity, Prostitution, Computer Crimes, Criminal Investigations, Victim Services and Crimes Against Children.

Officers, supervisors and personnel assigned to the particular divisions conduct each instructional block. The Citizens Police Academy was created in order to provide enough information to participating citizens so that they may make informed judgments about the police department and police activity. It is further hoped that the instruction will increase public awareness in order to dispel suspicions and misconceptions and to increase police community rapport through this education process.The department, in turn, becomes more aware of the feelings and concerns of the community from participant interaction and input.

The Citizens Police Academy is held in the Spring and Fall. The class meets every Thursday for 15 weeks. The academy covers a wide variety of topics, such as Criminal Investigations, Patrol Operations, Communications, Crime Prevention, Courts and their functions, Defensive Tactics and Firearms Training. Instruction in these and other topics consist of lectures, demonstrations, tours and hands-on activities.

Graduates of the Citizens Police Academy are eligible to join the Waco Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. The goal of the Association is an ongoing learning and helping process, with the main purpose of gathering graduates of the Waco Citizen's Police Academy in order to enhance relations between the community and the police force. The organization meets every month on the second Tuesday of each month. The Department conducted its first Citizens Police Academy in 1991. Over 20 classes have graduated thus far. Participants are diverse in backgrounds and represent many different areas of the community.

Citizen's Police Academy Application

Instructions: To move from cell to cell , Hit the TAB button on your keyboard. If you hit return instead, the form will be submitted without the complete information.

Date Submitted:
E-Mail (required):

Name:
Date of Birth:

Home Phone:
Home address:
City:
Zip Code:

Employer:
Occupation:
Business Address:
City:
Zip Code:
Work Phone:

Driver's License (number and state):
Social Security Number:

Race:

White Black Hispanic Asian American American Indian

Other:

Sex: Male Female

1. Organizations you are involved with, and awards or recognitions you have received:

2. Why do you wish to attend the Citizen's Police Academy?

3. How did you hear about the Citizen's Police Academy?

Web site Newspaper Waco City Cable Channel TV news Friend

4. Have you ever been arrested, detained, or taken into police custody by any Law Enforcement Official? If yes, please explain:

Yes No

If so, please explain:

5. Have you ever been convicted of drug possession or used any drugs? If yes, please explain:

Yes No

If so, please explain:

I hereby submit this application and authorize the Waco Police Department to conduct a background check for admittance to the Citizen's Police Academy:

Signature:

 

 
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