Community Oriented Policing Unit

Citizen's Police Academy

The Citizen Police Academy is a ten-week program designed to educate and inform citizens about issues that face law enforcement efforts in the Henry County. Each session consists of ten consecutive Tuesday night classes and one Saturday class at Henry County Police Department Training facilities. The instruction is comprehensive and each week separate areas of the department are covered.

The goal of the Citizen Police Academy is not only to help local residents better understand police work in their community, but to develop stronger ties between our community and police agencies in an effort to better address crime issues. Community Based Policing is an important and vital aspect of crime control in any community. It is through community cooperation and planning that we can best ensure quality police services in an organized effective crime prevention effort. The Citizen Police Academy is yet another mechanism for local police departments to inform the public of what they do, improve communication, and obtain citizen input, assistance, and support throughout the county.

The instruction provided at the Citizen Police Academy will include topics relevant to Henry County crime problems, such as: crime prevention and community based policing, drugs, gangs, DUI and traffic enforcement, investigations, the Use of Force Model and use of force, firearms safety and the law, and a tour of the Henry County Jail.

How the Citizen Police Academy Benefits Residents:

• Citizens and police officers have an opportunity to work closely together
• Open lines of communication between community residents and their police are enhanced
• Citizens gain the ability to make informed decisions regarding controversial issues faced by their communities
• Citizen involvement with their local community and police departments is enhanced
• Citizens gain a better understanding of how their police departments work and develop ways in which the community can better reduce crime
• Citizens become aware of the problems facing their police departments

We hope the graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy become more aware and better informed about how the Police Department operates, and will encourage friends, coworkers and families to join the Henry County Police Department in this rewarding program.

Academy Schedule

The Police Department offers two sessions of the Citizens Police Academy per year. The classes are held once a week on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Classes are free of charge, but involve a commitment to attend a ten week session. Most of the classes are held at the Henry County Police Department Training Room.

Entrance Requirements

Potential candidates for the Citizen Police Academy must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum age of 18
• Live/work in Henry County
• No prior felony arrests
• No misdemeanor arrests within six months of the application

Selection Procedure

Citizen Police Academy students are selected by the Police Chief through an application process. The names of the selected candidates are then placed on a waiting list. Enrollment is limited to approximately thirty students per session.

For more information on the Citizen's Police Academy, please the contact Uniform Patrol Office Manager at (770) 288-8285.

Download and print the application by clicking here. Please return your completed application to the Henry County Police Department located at: 108 S. Zack Hinton Pkwy.   McDonough, GA 30253.