Metro Citizens Police Academy

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Goal & Mission

The goal and mission of the Metro Citizen’s Police Academy (MCPA) is to assist the community in better understanding police training, procedures and philosophy through classroom and hands-on training conducted by area police officers. Training involves a variety of topics such as laws, ethics, investigations, firearms, emergency driving and much more.

Academy Details

Classes are typically held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the fall. Applications for the next academy are expected to be made available in July or August, so we encourage you to check back on this page if you would like to register. The academy runs eight consecutive weeks long and usually starts at the beginning of September. The classes are held at various departments and locations throughout the academy. Participants who complete the training courses are presented a certification of completion from the Chief of Police at the last training session.

Training Curriculum

  • Community Policing & Ethics
  • Basic Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law, Traffic, Local Ordinances
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Human Diversity
  • Domestic Crisis Intervention
  • Defensive Tactics - Use of Force
  • Patrol Procedures
  • Firearms
  • Vehicle Stops, Vehicle Operations
  • Crime Scene
  • Specialized Units
  • Training Scenarios
  • Open Forum, Current Issues

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2021 Participant Quote

Program Outline

The Metro Citizens Police Academy is a course offered to citizens and members of local civic and governmental organizations. Participants are given the opportunity to experience first-hand many areas relevant to policing including police training, police policy, prosecution of criminal cases, and critical issues relevant to the profession. The classes offered closely parallel the training curriculum that police officer candidates experience. It is imperative that participants understand that the MCPA is solely informative and in no way trains or promotes citizens to act in a law enforcement capacity.

In light of recent events involving law enforcement nationwide, local departments are seeking a diverse group of applicants who have specific interest in police procedures involving use and application of force, law enforcement training, arrest procedures and general police practices. The course provides an in-depth look at these areas knowing that many of these topics have come under scrutiny and have been topics of social debate. The course is designed to openly discuss these issues while interactively examining the training, equipment and circumstances that our local officers are experiencing.

Participants who complete the training courses in it’s entirety are presented a certification of completion from the Chief of Police at the last training session. 

Requirements

 Requirements for participation in the program are: 

  • Applicant must be 21 years of age.
  • Applicant must not have a criminal record. A records clearance check will be completed prior to acceptance into the program. 
  • Applicant must reside within the St. Cloud city limits.
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