Safe in 60: Go Behind the Scenes of Police Work at a Citizen’s Academy

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Do you wonder what it is like to be a police officer? Many law enforcement agencies offer opportunities for you to see what’s taught in the police academy.

The Salt Lake City Police Department offers a Citizens Academy twice a year so the community can experience some of the exact training our officers do, and receive a better understanding of what officers respond on every day.

Citizen “cadets” attend a three hour class one evening a week for four weeks. The 12 hours of learning includes classroom discussions and hands-on scenarios to learn defensive strategies; police tactics, such as shoot-don’t shoot scenarios; and firearms.

They will also see demonstrations from specialty squads, like K9 units.

The classes are taught by law enforcement professionals who currently work for the department. It’s a fun learning environment that provides a deeper understanding of how the police department functions, and how you can become more involved in partnerships with your local police.

To attend Salt Lake City Police Department’s academy you must be at least 18 years old, and live or work in Salt Lake City proper.

To apply: contact Salt Lake City Police at (801) 799-6397 or apply online at: www.slcpd.com/citizens-academy.

Most law enforcement agencies across the Wasatch Front as well as Davis and Weber Counties offer similar Citizen Academies to their residents. Here is more information for a couple of those learning opportunities:

Unified Police: http://updsl.org/page_resources_citizenPoliceAcademy.php

Davis County: http://daviscountycpa.org/

Reach out to your local police department if you are interested in attending a class in your community.