Community Involvement

450 - Citizen Police Academy

The Santa Monica Police Department's Citizen Police Academy is a 12-week program designed to enhance and promote citizen understanding and awareness of the role of the police department in the community. The academy is offered in both English and Spanish twice yearly.

The objective of the academy is to increase Santa Monica residents' familiarity with the many programs and services of the police department. Registration for the academy is open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in Santa Monica, who is at least 21 years of age and has no felony or misdemeanor convictions.

The academy classes include an introduction to the police facilities and equipment, the criminal justice system, crime scene investigation, demonstrations by special operations units, police weapons training, drug and DUI enforcement, accident investigation and a ride-along with a patrol officer.

Citizens who have attended the program say that their participation in it has greatly improved their understanding of the difficulty that officers encounter in their duties, as well as a greater awareness of the importance of community involvement in maintaining public safety.

For registration information, please call the Community Relations Unit of the Police Department at (310) 458-8474. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may leave a message after hours and your call will be returned on the next business day.