Citizens Police Academy

Building a Relationship Between Police and Citizens

The Citizens Police Academy offers a unique, first-hand experience that expands the partnership between citizens and police through training and education.  The Academy, which meets once a week for 10 weeks, is designed to educate the public about the criminal justice system and provide insight about everyday police work.

Topics covered during course include criminal law, firearms, traffic laws, DUI procedures, report writing, domestic violence, traffic stops, scenarios, and defensive tactics.

The academy is open to any University of Pittsburgh student, or member of the staff or faculty. Classes are held on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jerome Cochran Public Safety Building at 3412 Forbes Ave.  All participants will receive a certificate upon completion. 

To register online for a spot in the class, go to the DocuSign page. For additional information, contact Lt. Brooke Riley at brb119@pitt.edu.

The Fall 2022 Class Comes Away with 'Understanding and Appreciation'

By all accounts, it was a successful class with a dozen new graduates.  We asked them about their experiences and the lessons that were learned.

Spring 2022 Class Gets 'Intense' Look at Training

For the first time in the program's three-year history, the Spring 2022 class participated in a scenario simulator, a hands-on experience run by the Allegheny County Police Academy that uses a 180-degree screen and simulated interactions to force participants to make crucial decisions just as a police officer would.

Join Us!

Register and become part of our next Citizens Police Academy class