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). The program usually runs from March through May on Wednesday nights with a couple of optional Saturdays. The 2023 class begins on March 8, but there are still openings. Please give us a call ASAP at 206-842-5211 if you want to enroll. The class is FREE. Here is a link to the application.

The intent of the course is not to prepare students for a career in law enforcement, but to help island residents and business owners become more familiar with their police department and get to know the officers who serve them. The CPA covers everything from traffic enforcement, patrol, and criminal law to use of force, de-escalation, and investigations. The academy is generally offered around the first quarter of each year and runs between 8 and 12  weeks on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Optional Saturday sometimes include tours of the Kitsap County Jail, the Kitsap County Coroner's Office, the 911 Dispatch Center and more based on availability and access.

 Preference will be given to island residents.

A little background on the Community Police Academy...

Founded in 2004, the Community Police Academy is offered just once per year. Participants are presented with frank and candid explanations of how the units within the police department function and have the 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, narcotics, investigations, criminal law, defensive tactics, and identity theft. Participants will also have an opportunity to ride with an on-duty patrol officer, and take tours of the 911 dispatch center, Kitsap County Coroner’s Office, and Kitsap County Jail.