Citizens Police Academy Returns To Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Cleveland Heights residents who have always wanted to know more about what it's like to be a police officer have a golden opportunity to find out.

The Cleveland Heights Police Department is running its Citizens Police Academy soon and is seeking participants for the program. Applications to join are due by August 1 and are available online.

“The Cleveland Heights Police Department is always looking to develop improved understanding of our residents and for residents to have an improved understanding of its police department and its operations. It is the goal of the CHPD to keep and maintain a relationship with graduates of the Citizens Police Academy," Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg told Patch.

The program provides police department employees the opportunity to interact with and educate a group of well-informed citizens regarding Cleveland Heights police procedures, investigations and operations – and to foster a deeper understanding between police officers and members of the community.

The goal of the academy is the improve the relationship between residents and the police and to build a steady stream of volunteers. The program will include interactions with active police officers, a deep-dive in to police procedures, investigations and operations and more.

All of the instructors taking part in the program are trained, law enforcement professionals. The Citizens Police Academy will last six weeks. When the program is finished, graduates become members of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and can continue their relationship with the police department.