Citizen Police Academy | City of Grand Rapids, MI

Want to know more about the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD)? Want an inside look at aspects of law enforcement most have never seen? Join the Citizen Police Academy.

Students get first-hand exposure to the police department, personnel, and equipment. They're able to put themselves in officers' shoes in the weekly classes.

Application Process

Applications for the 2024-2025 session are closed.

Look for applications for next year's session to open in Fall 2025.

What is Citizen Police Academy?

See if the Citizen Police Academy is right for you! Here's a little more about the program:

A ten (10) week program
A program to provide the community with knowledge about GRPD policies and procedures
The program is free of charge
We invite all members of the community to take part
Meetings take place on designated week days from 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Purpose of Citizen Police Academy

The purpose of the Citizen Police Academy is to:

Educate community members in GRPD procedures and pressures associated within law enforcement
Allow the citizens to meet the men and women who serve the community
Provide police officers the opportunity to meet and hear from the community served

Topics Covered

We'll review the following topics:

Community Policing
Meet the Chief
Laws of Arrest
Search and Seizure
Communications
Internal Affairs
Criminal Investigations
Crime Scene Processing and Forensics
Patrol Operations
Canine Unit
Vice
Special Response Team
Use of Force Training
Traffic Stops

Academy Eligibility

All participants must match the following criteria:

Live or work in the City of Grand Rapids
Be at least 21 years of age
Have NO prior felony convictions
Have NO misdemeanor convictions within the last three years