Interested in learning more about local law enforcement? The Citizens Police Academy is designed to give participants a glimpse behind the badge and to provide information about training, policies, and the many units and divisions within the Fairfax County Police Department.

FCPD is now accepting applications for the Spring 2020 session that will meet from March 5 to May 9, 2020 and the Fall 2020 session that will meet from Sept. 17 to Nov. 21, 2020.

Students will learn about:

• Police training (including weapons and driving)

• Neighborhood Patrol

• Crime Scene Investigation

• Use of Force

• Traffic Stops

• Internal Affairs

• Police helicopter and its capabilities

• SWAT

• Department of Public Safety Communications (911 call center)

• And much more...

Classes are held on ten consecutive Thursday nights, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Graduation is held on a Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes rotate to various police department facilities around Fairfax County. Due to the popularity of the program, all participants are required to attend at eight out of ten classes in order to successfully graduate.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• Live or work in Fairfax County

• Must clear a review of your criminal record and police contact history prior to acceptance

• Provide your own transportation

The Fairfax County Police Department seeks people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds when selecting participants for its Citizen Police Academy. Candidates from different ethnicities, professions, cultural backgrounds, orientations, age groups, and communities throughout Fairfax County are encouraged to apply in order to enrich class discussions and strengthen community relationships.

This program is not an accredited certification course to become a sworn police officer. For information regarding employment as a police officer or about the paid police academy, visit the Join Our Team page.

For more information, call 703-246-4315 or e-mail at CPA@fairfaxcounty.gov