Community Police Academy

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a police officer? If so, you might be interested in attending the Bainbridge Island Police Department’s Community Police Academy (CPA).

Founded in 2004, the CPA is offered just once per year, usually from March through May on Wednesday evenings with a couple of optional Saturdays. The intent of the course is not to prepare students for a career in law enforcement, but to provide students with frank and candid explanations of how the units within the police department function and give them an opportunity to ask questions of guest speakers. There are no tests to pass and no educational credits earned, but participants gain a better understanding of the department’s decision-making processes, how and why policies are created, and have an opportunity to learn about the kinds of situations officers face every day. Most importantly, participants can determine more accurately how effective the department is in serving the community. Some of the topics covered include traffic enforcement, patrol, narcotics, investigations, criminal law, defensive tactics, use of force, de-escalation, fraud and identity theft. Depending on availability, participants may also have an opportunity to ride along with an on-duty patrol officer, and take tours of the 911 dispatch center, Kitsap County Coroner’s Office, and Kitsap County Jail.

The 2023 class is well underway, but if you'd like to attend next year be sure to follow us on Facebook and you'll be the first to know when enrollment is open.  The class is FREE. Here's a link to the application. Preference is given to island residents.