The Elkhart Police Department is accepting applications for it’s “Citizens Police Academy through March 6.

Through the “Citizens Police Academy,” the Elkhart Police Department, the department offers its citizens new insight as to how police officers and other city departments perform
their duties pertaining to law enforcement. Additionally, we hope to enlighten the community as to the various problems we encounter while serving them.

The “Citizens Academy” is a ten week program where citizens attend 2½ hour classes, one night each week.

The classes are instructed by Elkhart Police Department personnel who have developed the curriculum which includes, but is not limited to, Narcotics Investigations,
Special Response Team, Canine, Defensive Tactics, Professional Standards, Crime Scene Investigations, and the Emergency 911 Communications Center. During the academy, participants will receive information and demonstrations on how the different divisions of the police department work.

At the end of the academy, participants are encouraged to participate in a Ride-Along with an on duty officer to see how everything they have learned can be applied.

It is not the intent of the “Citizens Academy” to recruit or guide individuals into a career of law enforcement. It is not the intent of the “Citizens Academy” to influence citizens to be pro-police, if their beliefs are otherwise. It is however, our intent to provide all attendees with basic information to increase their knowledge of how the police department operates on a daily basis.

It is also our intent to educate, sometimes entertain and most importantly bring the citizens of our community closer together. With this simple philosophy, we hope to foster a better understanding and establish a friendship between the law enforcement community and the citizens we serve.

The “Citizens Academy” is scheduled for Tuesday nights from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM starting on March 12, 2019 going through May 21, 2019 (there will be no class on April 2, 2019 due to Spring Break).

Anyone interested in participating in this educational experience must complete an application and release, which is available at the front desk of the Elkhart Police Department, 175 Waterfall Drive, Elkhart, Indiana 46516.

Application will be taken until March 6. Class size is limited to the first 18 approved applications.