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Springfield Police open registration for 35th Citizens Police Academy; sessions begin late March
Summary
The Springfield Police Department is accepting signups for its 35th Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week program beginning March 26 (signups close March 19). The academy offers an inside look at police divisions, alumni volunteer opportunities and several community events tied to the program.
The Springfield Police Department on the Chief Chat podcast encouraged residents to sign up for its 35th Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week, once-a-week program the department said will begin March 26. Registration is open through March 19, and officials said spaces remain available.
Police Chief Allison Elliot said the academy gives residents direct access to department leaders and specialized units. "We are really excited to have him here this morning," Elliot said when introducing Officer Brandon Davis, who described the program as a chance for citizens to "ask these questions" about how units such as SWAT and detective divisions operate.
Officer Brandon Davis, who said he has worked for Springfield for six and a half years and now serves on the community response team, described the academy as "a live look or a raw look at the police department" and said it includes presentations from the police chief, the city manager (named on the program as Brian Hec), representatives from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, judges and prosecutors and specialized units such as investigations, traffic and SWAT.
The department emphasized the academy’s two-way value: it is both an opportunity for the public to learn internal procedures and a forum for the department to receive feedback and adjust training or procedures based on participant input. Davis said past feedback has led to annual tweaks in the program.
Alumni from the Citizens Police Academy help staff community events, including traffic control at Memorial Day parades and volunteer support for Operation Thanksgiving and Operation Santa. The department said the alumni association will be present at graduation to talk about volunteer opportunities.
Officials also listed several community programs tied to the department’s outreach calendar: Project Blue Envelope in late April (in partnership with Clark County Developmental Disabilities), a bike rodeo for children ages 6–13 on June 5, and National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August (named on the program as Aug. 4 at Veterans Park). The police and fire departments said they will promote signup and event reminders on the city’s Facebook pages.
The department noted one scheduling ambiguity recorded on the program: speakers listed several possible final-session dates in late May (May 20, May 28 and May 29) without a single, clear graduation date. The department encouraged prospective participants to register by March 19 and said missing an occasional session is acceptable.
