Citizens Academy

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Citizens' Academy Program

The Citizens' Academy Application for the upcoming session can be filled out online via SeamlessDocs. We will accept applications through the end of business on September 22, 2023, or prior if we hit our cap of participants.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Training Academy is pleased to provide those who live and work in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community an opportunity to learn more about the CMPD and our services to the community. Citizens can learn firsthand about police operations through a series of lectures, simulated activities, practical sessions and tours.

Our Citizens Academy program is anticipated to restart on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The majority of the sessions are held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the Police Training Academy which is located on Shopton Road. The practical sessions offered are for citizens who have applied for and have been accepted as Citizens' Academy participants.

We are looking forward to the workshops as a year of opportunities for citizens to have a better understanding of our mission and services to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community. The Citizens' Academy program helps us at the CMPD build community relationships and create a cadre of citizens who are better informed about police work and our services to the community. Please do not hesitate to contact us at the Training Academy should you have any questions. For further information about the program please call 704-249-0550 or email Program Manager Lauren Orosz. Please allow for 4 - 6 weeks for processing.


Citizens' Academy Core Workshops(Sessions offered at the Training Academy.)

• Welcome - Program Overview, CMPD Serves & Core 4 Oct. 03rd
• Police Attorney's Office - Constitutional Law Overview Oct. 10th
• Internal Affairs and Professional Standards Oct. 17th
• Traffic Enforcement Oct. 24th
• Defensive Tactics, Police Driving, Firearms Training (Range) (Saturday A.M.) Nov. 04th
• LEC Rotation Week 1 – Records, Property Control, Community Engagement / Crime Prevention Nov. 07th
• LEC Rotation Week 2 – Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), Communications / 911 Center, Crime Scene Search Nov. 14th
• Special Operations – Bomb, SWAT, K9, Helicopter Nov. 28th
• Investigations Bureau Dec. 05th

Online Sessions(Sessions offered as online courses to take at your leisure.)

• CMPD History, Police Officer Recruitment & Selection, and Police Officer Recruit & In-service Training

Citizens' Academy Elective Activities(one elective is required)

• Community Meeting
• Patrol Ride-Along

Citizens' Academy Graduation (6:30PM - 8:30PM)Dec. 12th


If you are interested in applying to become a police officer, please do not complete the forms on this page. Please contact our Recruiting Offices: