Citizens Police Academy

The Sterling Heights Police Department’s Citizen’s Academy is a 30 hour block of instruction designed to give the public a working knowledge of the police department’s personnel and policies. It consists of a series of classes, held once each week for 3 hours. The instruction is comprehensive, covering a different area of the police department each week. Officers, supervisors and personnel assigned to that particular division conduct each instructional block. 

The class is made up of a cross-section of the community. Doctors, architects, homemakers, laborers, students, secretaries, salespeople and others are encouraged to apply for admission. The minimum age of enrollment is 18 years old and priority is given to applicants who live or work in the City. 

The Sterling Heights Citizens Police Academy was created in order to provide enough information to the citizens that attend so they may better understand the operation of the police department and police activity. It is hoped that the instruction will increase police awareness while dispelling suspicions and misconceptions along with increasing police and community rapport through the educative process. The department, in turn, becomes more aware of the feelings and concerns of the community from the students' interaction and input. 

The program will cover wide ranging topics such as police training, communications, criminal investigations, drunk driving procedures, crime prevention, family violence, juvenile law and much more. Emphasis is placed on the patrol division, as that is the segment of the police department that the public most often comes in contact with. Instruction in these and other topics will consist of lectures, demonstrations, tours and hands-on experiences. 

Citizens Police Academy Application

Citizens Police Academy is a 10-week, 30-hour program running Tuesday evenings. Applications for Citizens Police Academy can be picked up at the Police Department, 40333 Dodge Park Road, or printed using the links below. Interested residents should submit an application to the attention of SHPD Sgt. Aaron Susalla. Completed applications can be physically dropped off at the Police Department, or emailed to CPA@sterling-heights.net.