East Hartford Citizen Police Academy

Chief Scott M. Sansom and the East Hartford Police Department are happy announce the upcoming tenth session of the East Hartford Citizen Police Academy.

The Citizen Police Academy is geared toward citizens who reside, work, own a business, or are a student in East Hartford.  This is a unique opportunity for citizens of East Hartford to learn about their police department and the work local police officers perform in the community.  The academy provides an overview of police operations, practices, and objectives.

The East Hartford Police Department is committed to the operation of its Citizen Police Academy in order to foster a climate of mutual understanding, communication, and cooperation between the members of the Department and the community it serves. The primary objective of the Citizen Police Academy program is to afford citizens, workers, students, and business owners within the community, 18 years of age or older, with no felony convictions or significant criminal history, an opportunity to get a first-hand overview into the operations of the Department. Classes are typically held in either the Spring or Fall, once a week for three hours, for eight weeks, at the Public Safety Complex.

The Citizen Police Academy is part of the community policing concept, embraced by the East Hartford Police Department. Citizens who attend the academy will learn about such topics as the history of the police department, police employment and training, legal standards, patrol and special unit operations, criminal investigations, evidentiary services, use of force, police and the public, and proactive policing efforts.

 “Now, more than ever, a mutual understanding between police and the community is essential,” said Chief Sansom.  “The Citizen Academy is a great opportunity for members of our community to not only become better acquainted with the Police Department, but to also understand the rationale behind police operations.”

Classes will run every Wednesday for eight weeks, starting on September 5, 2018, from 6:30 PM until 9:30 PM, in the East Hartford Police Department’s Training Classroom.  The academy is free of cost, and enrollment is limited to twenty-five participants. Residents can register online HERE. Those who are unable to register online can fill out an application form HERE and submit it via email, mail or drop it off at the Police Department. Applications can also be picked up in the Front Lobby of the Public Safety Complex at 31 School Street.  The application deadline is Wednesday, August 29, 2018.  Citizens needing further information should contact Lieutenant Juergens at (860) 528-4401, Extension 7529, or you can e-mail tjuergens@easthartfordct.gov.