Applications are due by August 27th for the Fall session of the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Academy, and there is a place in it for you!
Twice a year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The Pittsburgh Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) brings the police and the community close together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant.
Participants receive three hours of training one evening each week for 15 weeks in many of the varied functions of law enforcement. They experience some of the highlights of police training and are exposed to the operations of the police bureau. Participants are taught the basics of criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, firearms and many other subjects. They learn about the processing of a crime scene, how police canines are used, and are exposed to many of the specialty police units. CPA participants meet and talk with many of the street officers as well as the command staff and training staff that serves them. All this takes place in a safe and entertaining training environment.
You might wonder, of what value is it to put out this much time and effort, but I want you to consider looking at this from a different perspective. I encourage you to think abouyt this as a form of LGBTQ activism. Imagine, this is most likely the closest you will ever be to a large number of members of the PPD. You will have much opportunity to share your perspectives as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, or allied supporters, and these are perspectives that these same members of the force probably don’t hear very often. Your participation provides opportunities to the Pittsburgh Police to learn about the needs of the LGBTQ community, and understand how their actions and the ways they do things impacts the LGBTQ community. You also provide that same opportunity to the other participants in the training class.
Check out the Citizen Police Academy web pages for the application and more information.