The Frederick Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy is designed to show citizens the many functions their police perform. The Citizen Academy demonstrates the varied challenges and experiences a police officer encounters when he or she puts on the uniform and goes to work each day.

Participants receive instruction and participate in many aspects of modern law enforcement training. The program is highly interactive and hands-on. Questions are encouraged. Each class member participates in a ride-along with an officer during his or her patrol shift, affording further understanding of what it’s like to wear the Frederick Police Department uniform. During the last academy session, participants are given the opportunity to test their newly acquired knowledge in real life practical scenarios, where students are officers reacting to problems that police officers face everyday.

One of the cornerstones of community policing is the creation of a partnership between the police and the community, working together to solve problems and address crime and quality of life concerns. For this to succeed, the community-police partnership must flourish. It is our goal to provide our citizens with a special insight into police service and the role of the Frederick Police Department.

The Citizen Academy will afford you a unique perspective of what it means to be a police officer. Unfortunately, many citizens never see the positive influence that the overwhelming majority of law enforcement professionals impart in our communities, and the pride we have in our profession. We trust that your enhanced understanding of the department will aid our efforts to galvanize the community to work in unison with the police.

By participating in this program you will demonstrate your civic-mindedness, working for the good of our community. Upon completion of this program, you will not be a sworn police officer, nor be expected to perform any law enforcement functions. You will, however, have a greater understanding of what your police department does and how we can work together to make this a better community for everyone! We look forward to working with you.

Kim C. Dine

Chief of Police