Eugene Citizens' Police Academy

The Eugene Citizens' Police Academy is a series of classes designed to educate the public about police operations in Eugene. The academy provides citizens with an understanding of police procedures, investigative techniques, the community policing philosophy, the officer selection process, training standards, and much more. Academies are held once yearly in September, at no cost to participants. Application forms to the academy are available at several locations downtown, through the mail or online.

The City of Eugene's Police Department believes our business -- that of protecting life and property -- is everybody's business. Partnerships between citizens and the department benefit all of us and result in a more effective service level to the community. We firmly believe in our motto, "Quality Policing Through Partnerships."

The police department identifies community policing as one of its major goals. In community policing, citizens and neighborhood groups work together with police to resolve the community's crime problems. Community policing involves the public in identifying crime problems and creating solutions that increase the quality of life in our neighborhoods. At the same time, police will continue to respond to emergency situations and fulfill their traditional roles.

The Citizens' Police Academy (CPA) is 14 class sessions between September and November of each year. Students meet once a week from 6 to 9 p.m. and two Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The majority of the classes are held at the Emergency Services Training Center, located at 1705 West 2nd Avenue in west Eugene. There will be field trips to Eugene City Hall, the firearms range, and the emergency vehicle operations course.

Who May Apply?

For each academy, the police department seeks a diverse group of participants who are representative of Eugene's population. Any interested citizen must live or work within the Eugene city limits and must be at least 19 years of age. Applicants must have no prior felony convictions and must have had no misdemeanor arrests within the past 12 months prior to the academy. NOTE: This academy is not for individuals who desire to be police officers but rather for those who wish to learn about their community's police department.

Class Size

The Citizens' Police Academy is currently restricted to no more than 22 participants. Applicants denied admission will be encouraged to reapply for the next class. Therefore, because space is limited, we ask that applications be submitted only by those individuals who can commit to attend all class sessions.

How to Apply

Interested citizens must complete an application packet which includes a program application form, background investigation and liability release form, and photo release form. Application packets may be downloaded and printed from the link below, or may be picked up at the following locations:

• Eugene Police Department Headquarters, 777 Pearl St., Room 107
  
  
• West University Public Safety Station, East 13 ^th Avenue and Alder Street
  
  
• Monroe Street Station, West 6 ^th Avenue and Monroe Street
  
  
• Emergency Services Training Center, 1705 West Second Avenue
  

Academy Schedule

Classes are held each Tuesday evening, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and two Saturdays from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., within a Fourteen-week period.  Some of the topics that will be covered are listed below and the schedule is a tentative list of topics. The dates and topics are subject to change and every effort will be made to adhere to the schedule. Scheduling circumstances may cause the topics to be rearranged or eliminated. 

Topics of Discussion

• Meet the Chief of Police
• Department Overview
• Recruitment, Hiring and Training
• 9-1-1 Dispatch Center
• Records Section
• Community Policing
• Patrol Division
• Traffic Enforcement
• Emergency Vehicle Operation
• Investigations Division
• Vice/Narcotics Unit
• K-9 Team
• Forensic Evidence Unit
• Property Control Unit
• Safer Schools Program
• Street Gangs
• Internal Affairs
• Use of Force
• Firearms Training
• Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)
• Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT)
• Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) and Arson Team
• Municipal Court Operations
• Community Service Officer Program
• Neighborhood Public Safety Stations
• Police Activities League
• Victim / Witness Services Program
• Volunteers in Policing Program

Application Deadline and Address Information

Download the Application and Release forms below and submit by August 23, 2010, to Citizen’s Police Academy, 1705 W. 2nd Ave., Eugene, OR, 97402.

For further information contact Janet Kirsch, 541-682-2751 or janet.l.kirsch@ci.eugene.or.us.