New Class Forming: March 19 start. Click to APPLY now. 


The concept of the Citizen Police Academy was developed in 1977 in England to familiarize private citizens with the nature of police work and the organization of the police system.  The Pasadena Police Department held its first Citizen Police Academy in March 1995.  Typically, we run two Citizen Police Academy classes each year.

The Citizen Police Academy is a 13 week course designed to give citizens a better understanding of the Pasadena Police Department.  Applicants must either reside or own a business in Pasadena, be at least 21 years of age and pass a background check.  Applicants who have outstanding warrants or open/pending court cases will be automatically disqualified.  Classes are limited to 25 students.

Classes meet once a week from 7-10 p.m.  Each week a different area of the Police Department is covered.  Officers from throughout the department teach on topics related to the officer’s specific assignment.  This course of study will cover topics such as juvenile investigations, telecommunications, D.W.I., police pursuits, S.W.A.T., criminal investigations, crime lab, and crimes scene investigations.  Classes will consist of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice.

Upon completing the Citizen Police Academy, the participants will have the opportunity to join the Pasadena Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.  The Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association works with the Pasadena Police Department to provide assistance with special projects and functions as a liaison between the Police Department and the community.  The Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association is a non-political, non-profit, tax-exempt organization.

For more information about the Citizen Police Academy contact the Police Department’s Community Services Division at 713-475-7071.

To apply for enrollment in the next CPA, read the linked file with important information on academy classes, then print, complete and mail both the application and your signed commitment page to the address on the page. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open this file and may be downloaded at the previous link at no cost.

The CPA information sheet, commitment page and application may be downloaded here.