CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

The Northport Police Department will hold classes for its Citizen's Police Academy the first week in June of each year.    The Northport Police Department is located at 3721 26th Avenue, Northport, Alabama.

 

The Citizen Police Academy is an integral part of the Northport Police Department's community involvement and public outreach.  The academy is designed to provide a mechanism that will allow participants to develop an understanding of how the police department functions.  It will also foster better communication between the community and the police department.

 

Each two-hour academy session will cover a different subject and some of the two-hour sessions will cover several different subjects.  The subjects will range from the organization of the police department to discussions and demonstrations with specialized units.  Each session may have hands on activities such as:  high-risk traffic stops, fingerprinting, and the use of less than lethal weapons.  Participants will be able to interact with police officers and academy instructors during each session.

 

Academy participants will initially be greeted by Northport officials followed by a behind the scenes' tour of the Northport Police Department.  Each participant and their family and friends will be invited to attend the Citizen's Police Academy Graduation Ceremony which will be held at the Northport Police Department Municipal Courtroom.

 

Academy participants will be able to receive first hand police experience by being permitted to participate in the police department's Ride Along Program.  The Ride Along will be scheduled in week eleven of the academy.  The exclusive Ride Along experience should vividly create an understanding of what an officer's job entails.  It should be an exciting and interactive experience for all participants.

 

The academy enrollment is limited to thirty students.  Citizens' Police Academy application forms are currently available at the Northport Police Department.  Academy application forms may also be downloaded and printed out from the Enrollment Application Link on this page.  All completed applications should either be mailed or returned to the Northport Police Department.  The Academy Coordinator will contact the selected participants several weeks prior to the start of the academy to confirm their participation.

 

          Potential applicants must meet the following criteria:

          *  Be at least 18 years of age

          *  Live, work, or attend schools in the Northport Community

          *  Have no felony convictions

          *  Have no misdemeanor convictions within one year of the application.

 

Certain requirements may be waived or modified by the Chief of Police.  The academy is absolutely free and there are no hidden fees.  The Academy Coordinator, Inv Terry Zilke is ready to answer any lingering questions and may be reached at (205) 752-0617 (ext.) 645 or Parker Lancaster (205) 339-6600.

 

          Documents for Download:

          Enrollment Application

          Summer 2008 Class Outline