What is the Columbia Police
Department Citizen
Police Academy?
The Columbia Police
Department Citizen Police Academy (CPA) is a community oriented
policing program designed for the community. It is conducted twice a
year in order to accomplish three goals:
- To allow citizens to meet the men and
women who serve them
- To educate the community in
the "how's" and "why's" of law enforcement
- To provide Columbia Police
Officers the opportunity to meet and hear from the
citizens they serve
What topics are covered in the Citizen Police Academy?
CPA participants are given a realistic
view of the Columbia Police Department. A wide variety of topics are discussed:
patrol procedures, officer survival, criminal investigation, narcotics,
gangs, crime prevention, police training, and a myriad of other law
enforcement subjects. In addition, opportunities to ride along with
a Columbia
officer.
Click here for more info on course content
When and
where does the Columbia
CPA meet?
The Columbia CPA meets once a week
on Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm at the Columbia
Police Department (Training Annex) 1632 Hampton St in Columbia. The course consists
of 10 sessions, including an optional ride-along session
and two optional Saturday driving and firearms safety training.
A graduation ceremony and course review completes the CPA. There is
no cost to students who are attending the CPA.
Call (803) 545-3550 for the current
course information or click here for next class schedule.
And after CPA
graduation?
All CPA graduates are provided the
opportunity to join the Columbia Citizen Police Academy Alumni
Association in order to continue their law enforcement education and
involvement with the police department. The Columbia CPA Alumni
Association meets once a month, with a short business meeting and continuing
law enforcement education on relevant issues facing the city. The
Alumni Association is very involved in other activities that promote
citizen involvement within the police department and the City of Columbia.
Click here to check out the Alumni Page
Who can attend the CPA?
You must be at least 18 years old (or
accompanied by a parent or guardian) and either LIVE or WORK IN the City of
Columbia or be willing to commute to the
classes from outside the Columbia
area. You must not have been arrested in the last 5 years or have any
previous actions which could reflect unfavorably on the
Columbia Police department, any suggestion that you might be a
security risk, or any attempt to deceive or conceal pertinent information, will
be cause for denial of this application.
Interested in attending? Follow the
steps below.
Applications are
available from the following three ways:
- By calling the Columbia Police
Department: Training Section
at (803) 545-3550
- By writing the Training Section at
Columbia Police
Department: Training & Career Development
ATTN: Lt. D.A. Hellman
#1 Justice Square
Columbia,
S.C. 29201
- By clicking on the Application link above
and Printing out and filling in the following application available
over the Internet:
2. Mailing the
application
Columbia Police
Department: Training & Career Development
ATTN: Lt. D.A. Hellman
#1 Justice Square
Columbia, S.C.
29201
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