The University of Maryland Police Department is having a Community Police Academy starting February 8th, concluding on April 19th with a graduation ceremony. It will take place each Wednesday night at their Training Facility and it is open to all who live, work, or attend school in College Park. Information about the class and the application are on the UMPD website. Applications are due by February 1, 2017.
The idea of the class is to be an informal setting that will encourage conversation among participants and police officers. Participants will be introduced to the academic and practical aspects of a police academy and will become familiar with such topics as traffic law, crime scene investigations, and criminal law. There will also be an opportunity to participate in a ride-along with an officer. The academy experience will also include practical exercises and scenarios faced by police officers. This will be a unique experience to bring together, in a non-confrontational, learning environment, an array of citizens who will be encouraged to express their thoughts openly and honestly.