The next Citizen Police Academy class will begin on ​February 26, 2024.
Citizen Police Academy is a program of citizens and law enforcement officers working together to make Wichita and Sedgwick County a better and safer place to live and work!
The Citizen Police Academy (CPA) is a thirteen-week program designed to provide a working knowledge and background of the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and to foster a closer relationship between our agencies and the community. It provides an avenue for community involvement and provides firsthand experience of policing.
The Citizen Police Academy is intended to develop a harmonious working relationship between members of the community and law enforcement while at the same time opening a mutually supportive avenue for communication.
It is an opportunity for citizens to learn more about their local law enforcement, ask questions, and gain a more thorough understanding of the inner workings of the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office. The Academy is also a means for participants and police personnel to share information and ideas about the police profession. The Academy also provides for improved community/police relationships, enhanced cooperation, and reduced stereotyping.
Academy Topics and Courses
Some of the topics and activities Academy attendees will participate in include:
- Patrol operations including riding assignments with a Wichita Police Officer or Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy.
- Overview of Investigations.
- Presentations by the Gang Unit.
- Wichita/Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Firearms Training Facility tour.
- Exploited and Missing Child Unit, Homicide and Robbery Investigations.
- Tours of the Wichita Police Department Crime Lab, Records Bureau, Sheriff's Crime Lab and the 911 Emergency Communications Center.
- Tour of the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility including an opportunity to sample jail food.
- Overview of Community Affairs and Community Policing.
- K9 Demonstration.
- SWAT Team demonstration.
- Bomb Squad demonstration.
Who Attends the Citizen Police Academy?
Persons from all walks of life. They include concerned citizens, Neighborhood Association members, Citizen Participation Organization members, members of the media, college students, potential police or sheriff applicants, factory workers, independent business people, city and county workers, Neighborhood Watch members, and many others.
What are the requirements to attend the CPA?
Persons interested in attending a Citizen Police Academy must live, work, or attend school within Sedgwick County. Persons must be at least 20 years of age, have no prior felony convictions and no outstanding warrants. Applicants must provide two personal references.
When and where is the Citizen Police Academy held?
There are two Academies held a year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Classes are held on Monday evenings during the Spring session and Tuesday evenings during the Fall session. The class is conducted from 6:30 - 9:30pm for 13 weeks. The Citizen Police Academy is held at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training Center, 4310 E. 19th Street North Wichita, KS 67208.
Why should I attend the CPA?
To learn and understand more about the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and to become more involved in your community. Everyone who attends the CPA returns to their communities as better-informed citizens capable of using their newly acquired information to help improve the conditions and quality of life in their community. Many graduates of the CPA go on to join the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA) to further advance their knowledge of law enforcement and become more actively involved with the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office. Various volunteer opportunities are available to CPA graduates through CPAAA membership.
How much does the CPA cost?
There is no cost to attend the Citizens Police Academy.
How can I apply to attend a CPA?
Apply using our online application below or call Kelly Godfrey at (316) 660-3810 or Sedgwick County Sheriff's Sergeant Jared Bloesing​ at (316) 660-3800 for more information or an application by mail.
This online application is not for the Wichita Police Department Commissioned Police Officer Academy. Looking for the Commissioned Police Officer Academy application form?
Apply to become a police officer
Sponsored by: Wichita Police Department | Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office | Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association | Wichita Police Foundation
