Rockwall, Texas – The Citizens Police Academy run by the Rockwall Police Department has been open to the public for decades. It gives people a chance to learn more about how the police work and why they make certain decisions.
Established in 1987, the program was created to give citizens clear, accurate information about police work, with the goal of helping them form informed opinions about policing in their community.
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Over the years, the academy has become a reliable link between the police and the people. Participants get to see what police work is really like, and officers get to hear directly from community members about their questions, concerns, and points of view. The outcome has been better communication, more understanding, and collaborations built on respect for each other.
The Citizens Police Academy is meant to be a full learning experience, with about 30 hours of lessons spread out over several weeks. During that time, people talk about a lot of different law enforcement themes that are regularly talked about in the community but not necessarily fully understood.
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Sessions cover things like hiring and recruiting, training new officers in the field, investigating crimes, enforcing DUI laws, preventing crime, and enforcing traffic laws. People who take part also learn about how to investigate accidents, process crime scenes, and the jobs of specialist units like SWAT.
Demonstrations that people can do are a big aspect of the curriculum. Attendees can see a K-9 demonstration and spend time at the police gun range, which gives them a chance to see how officers train and what kind of gear they use. These events are meant to help residents understand the policies and procedures they see in action around the city.
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People who live or work in Rockwall County and are at least 21 years old can go to the academy. It is necessary for applicants to have a clean criminal record. The program is free, which shows how much the department cares about educating and involving the community. The academy gives a lot of material, but it doesn’t give people the training they need to become police officers. The only reason for it is to teach.
The next Citizens Police Academy class will be from March 3 to May 5, 2026. For ten weeks, classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Rockwall Community Services building at 2610 Observation Trail, Suite 103, in Rockwall will host the sessions.
For more information regarding the Citizens Police Academy, please contact:
- Sgt. Aaron Raymond
Email:Â [email protected]
(972) 772-6776 - Officer Chris Cleveland
Email:Â [email protected]
(972) 772-6746 - Officer Curtis Bennett
Email:Â [email protected]
(972)772-6735
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The department continues to attempt to foster transparency, education, and partnership in the Rockwall community through programs like the Citizens Police Academy.
