Citizen's Police Academy

Have you ever been interested in learning more about how a police department operates and responds to incidents within your community? The Princeton Police Department will be holding an 8-week Citizen Police Academy which will be held at our police headquarters (1 Valley Rd. Princeton, NJ 08540). The academy will be on Thursday nights from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM starting April 20, 2023 and ending on June 8, 2023. The Citizen Police Academy is FREE and is on a first come serve basis with a maximum enrollment of 20 people.

Applicants Must:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Reside in Princeton, NJ
• Submit a completed application
• Pass a background process                     

The purpose of the Citizen Police Academy is to give the public a working knowledge and understanding of the operations of our police department and of law enforcement in general. Some topics of instruction will include organizational structure, use of force, police response, arrest, search and seizure, motor vehicle stops and officer safety. A ride-along program will be implemented to allow each participant to observe patrol functions first-hand. It is our intention that the graduates of the Princeton Police Citizen Police Academy will gain an awareness and appreciation of the services we provide. We also hope to collectively create an even stronger partnership between our police department and the community we serve.

Applications can be obtained by visiting Citizen Academy Application or at our police headquarters. Once applications are received and background investigations have been completed, approved applicants will be provided with the academy agenda.