Citizens Police Academy

Applicants MUST be Springfield residents who are at least 18 years of age with no felonies. Applicants must pass a basic background investigation to be eligible.

APPLY NOW for the 2023 Citizens Police Academy.

The Citizens Police Academy offers 30 hours of instruction over a ten-week period. The 2023 academy begins on August 17. During those ten weeks, the class meets every Thursday from 6pm-9pm. The academy traditionally occurs in the fall but is subject to an additional class in the spring. You may miss up to two days of classes and still graduate. 

The curriculum covers a variety of topics such as SPD policies, organizational structure, investigative processes, and police tactics.  This is an opportunity for you to meet with different officers at the Springfield Police Department and ask questions about various topics.

During the program, you will see how the Springfield Police Department operates and the reasons behind it. Beyond the 30 hours of instruction, you will have the opportunity to tour Police Headquarters, the Calaboose, and the Firing Range.

The application process does take time, but we aim to make it as smooth as possible. You can submit your application online, which will be sent to the Citizens Police Academy Coordinator. Please complete the questionnaire to the best of your ability. You may not receive a confirmation email of your application, but you are more than welcome to contact the Citizens Police Academy Coordinator for confirmation. After a basic background investigation, you will be notified of your acceptance status. 
 
Applicants must be Springfield residents and must pass a basic background investigation. Final selection of applicants is determined by the police chief.

The Citizen’s Police Academy is not the Springfield Police Academy, which is attended by Springfield Police Recruits. You will not receive POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) credit and you will not be certified as a police officer. This is an educational class to learn how the Springfield Police Department functions.   

Questions about the Citizens Police Academy can be directed to the Citizens Police Academy Coordinator, Officer Brandon Greathouse.

 Email: [email protected]
 
 Phone: 417-864-1138