Web site
Updated as of:
August 2, 2008

The web site is a "work in progess" so some of the links are not active as of yet. Please be patient as we continue to build and update the site.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED:

• What would it be like to be a Police Officer?
• How a Police Officer makes the decisions they make?
• What does a Patrol Officer do?
• How are they trained?
• How is the El Paso Police Department organized?
• Is there anything I can do to help make El Paso a better and safer place to live?

Well then, the El Paso Citizen Police Academy may be for you!

• Upcoming Citizen Police Academies
  (see sample class agendas on "CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY APPLICATIONS" page)
• Basic Classes
• September 4th 2008 - Oct 9th 2008
• January 20th 2009 - February 24th 2009
• Investigative Classes
• November 4th 2008 - December 2nd 2008
• April 14th 2009 - May 5th 2009
• Patrol Support & special Unit Class
• May 26th 2009 - June 2nd 2009
• Upcoming Youth Police Academies
  (see sample class agenda on "YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY" page)
• June 15th 2009 - June 19th 2009
• July 6th 2009 - July 10th 200

CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY

The Constabulary in Devon and Cornwall, England developed the concept of the Citizen Police Academy in 1977.  Its purpose was to familiarize the general public with the nature of police work and make them aware of the policies, procedures, and operations of their police department.  The idea came about due to the many questions being asked about Police Department operations.

In 1985, the Orlando (Fla.) Police Department was the first law enforcement agency in the United States to adopt the program.  It has become a national model for Citizen Police Academies that have been established in many cities and towns across the United States.

The El Paso Police Department began its Citizen Police Academy (the EPCPA) in 1995 in support of its Community Policing Initiative.  The El Paso Police Department (EPPD) believes that education is the most effective method of gaining understanding and support from the community.  The primary objectives of the Citizen Police Academy are:

• To provide a vehicle for educating and providing positive police relations with citizens on an ongoing basis; to build community-EPPD cooperation, understanding, and good a citizen-police rapport.
• To gain support for police, and police initiatives, and to encourage citizens to partner with law enforcement so as to assist in making our city a safer place in which to live.
• To provide citizens a better understanding of police functions, how policies are developed, the decision-making process, and what an officer experiences on a day-to-day basis.
• To dispel suspicions and misconceptions by providing a two-way dialog resulting in insight into citizen concerns and perceptions about police officers, police initiatives, philosophies, operations, and activities as well as providing the citizens with a greater awareness and appreciation of the challenges faced by a police officer every day.

The Citizen Police Academies are not intended to serve as an accredited law enforcement course, but merely to provide insight into and a general overview of the internal workings of the El Paso Police Department.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

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