Gainesville Police Department

Citizens' Academy

I.                     The Citizens’ Academy

A.      Mission Statement

1.       The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) will achieve a synergistic relationship with the members of the community by providing an understanding of law enforcement through a Citizens’ Academy. 

B.   Goals and Objectives

1.       The Citizens' Academy will be a cooperative effort with all areas of GPD.

2.       Conduct 2 Citizens' Academies per year.

3.       Educate the public in the following areas:

a.  Law Enforcement functions within GPD.

b.  Role of Law Enforcement in the Criminal Justice System.

c.  Limitations of Law Enforcement in the Criminal Justice System.

d.  The importance of collaborative partnerships between citizens and

     Law Enforcement.

e.  How to report suspicious activity.

4.       Hold biannual community walks (patrols) with Academy graduates and GPD officials.

5.       Encourage Citizens' Academy graduates to be ambassadors of GPD

in their neighborhoods by encouraging their neighbors to do the following:

a.        Become involved in Neighborhood Crime Watch and other activities that aim to improve neighborhoods.

b.       Recruit other citizens to attend future Citizens' Academy classes.

c.        Recruit citizens in their neighborhoods to participate in the biannual         

community walks.

d.       Become involved in other GPD programs through volunteerism (Auxiliary, etc.).

C.   Enrollment

1.       To attend the Citizens’ Academy, an applicant must complete an application and pass a background check.  The background check would include the following:

a.  NCIC and FCIC checks.

b.  Local warrant and criminal history checks.

2.       An applicant will not be considered for enrollment if they have prior felony convictions.  An applicant with misdemeanor convictions will be considered on a case by case basis.

3.       Academy classes will be limited to 30 citizens.  Those applicants who successfully meet enrollment criteria, but who are not selected, will be placed on an eligibility list for the next Academy.

D.   Duration

1.       Each Academy will run 10 weeks in duration.

2.       Classes will be held weekly from 1800-2100 hours, on Tuesdays evenings.

E.   Curriculum and Agenda

1.       Week 1:  Orientation and District Policing

2.       Week 2:  Mounted Patrol/K-9 Unit

3.       Week 3:  Criminal Law/Search & Seizure/Police Service Technician

4.       Week 4:  Patrol Operations/ Crime Analysis

5.       Week 5:  FATS Demonstration

6.       Week 6:  Criminal Investigations/Forensics

7.       Week 7:  Specialty Units (SWAT/NRT)

8.       Week 8:  Narcotics/Internal Affairs

9.       Week 9:  Community Resources/Traffic

10.    Week 10:  Graduation

F.   Ride-Along

   1.       During the course of the Academy, each citizen must ride with a patrol officer for not less than 3 hours.

      2.   Scheduling of ride-alongs will be coordinated with Operations Bureau.

G.   Completion

1.       Upon the successful completion and graduation from the Citizens’ Academy, each citizen will receive a diploma.

2.       Each citizen graduate will be assigned to a GPD officer as a point of contact and mentor.

H.   Governing Body

1.       The coordination of the Citizens’ Academy will be the function of a committee comprised of 1 department representative from each of the curriculum areas.  Committee members will provide curriculum outlines and will coordinate instructors to teach their block of instruction. The committee will plan and organize the Graduation Ceremony. 

2.       The Crime Prevention Unit will coordinate the committee's initial meetings.  Organizing and planning each Academy will be the responsibility of the entire committee.

II.                   Community Walks (Patrols)

A.      Goals

1.       Increase neighborhood awareness.

2.       Strengthen territorial reinforcement by neighbors getting involved in their neighborhoods.

3.       Create a public display of Police-Citizen partnerships by GPD and citizens walking together against crime.

4.        Teach citizens how to report suspicious activity.

B.       Operational Procedures

1.       GPD will coordinate 2 community walks (patrols) per year with Academy graduates, citizens, and police officers. 

2.       The coordinated biannual walks will be in specific neighborhoods, determined by community requests.

3.       GPD will provide flashlights and reflective vests for those participating in the walks.

4.       Academy graduates can obtain cellular phones through local cellular providers.  Most vendors will give neighborhoods free phones when the phones are being used to support a community crime prevention effort.  GPD will not issue cellular phones.

5.       The biannual walks will not be longer than three hours in duration.

6.       If Academy Graduates desire to coordinate additional walks in their neighborhoods, they will be responsible for notifying the Shift Commander of their of activities.

C.       Long-Term Effects of Community Walks

1.       Academy graduates will act as the eyes and ears for GPD and will understand how to report suspicious activity.

2.       Citizens can then patrol their own neighborhood with as much or as little interaction as they choose.

3.       Citizens who wish to coordinate a neighborhood walk will be encouraged to contact Citizens' Academy graduates for assistance, coordination, and participation in the event.

4.       Citizens will understand the limitations of Law Enforcement in dealing with community problems.

5.       Citizens will be motivated to assist in making their neighborhoods safe.

6.       Citizens will feel a heightened sense of territoriality in their neighborhoods.