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Apply by March 1 for an inside look at Eugene Police! Eugene Citizen Police Academy

It’s a great chance for residents to get an inside look at their Eugene Police Department: EPD is seeking interested citizens who wish to learn more about law enforcement and how their local police department works to apply to the 2023 Citizen Police Academy! Apply now! The deadline is March 1 at 5 p.m. 

Eugene Police is currently accepting applications from City of Eugene residents for the Eugene Police Department’s Citizen Police AcademyCity of Eugene resident is defined as someone who lives in the incorporated area of Eugene.  You can confirm this by following the attached link and then entering your address to determine residency: https://www.eugene-or.gov/944/Community-Engagement-Team.

The academy will be held Wednesday March 8  to Wednesday May 10. It is a 10-week program with classes on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and a few Saturdays, tentatively from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

To be considered to participate in this academy, applicants must commit to attending every session. This academy isn’t designed to train individuals to be police officers, but rather to educate those who wish to learn about their community’s police department.

For each academy, the police department seeks a diverse group of participants who are representative of Eugene’s population.  Participants must live in the incorporated area of the City of Eugene, be at least 21 years of age, and pass a criminal background check.  The academy is offered free of charge.  

Citizen Police Academy participants will learn about a variety of topics within the police department such as: organization overview, police officer training, budget, recruiting, crime statistics,  K-9 Unit, SWAT Team, Traffic Safety Unit, Forensics and Property Control Units, Central Lane 911 Center, Explosives Disposal Unit, Drone Team and more.  Students will learn about De-Escalation, Crisis Intervention and Defensive Tactics, will get to drive a police car on the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course and be given the opportunity to shoot a police firearm at the range.  This academy may include a tour of the Lane County Jail.

Applications must be submitted online via this link:  https://www.eugene-or.gov/FormCenter/Police-10/Citizen-Police-Academy-Application-571.  

For more information, you can contact EPD Community Engagement Team Program Manager Jeff Blondé via e-mail (jeff.v.blonde@ci.eugene.or.us), mail (300 Country Club Road, Eugene, OR 97401), or via phone by calling 541-682-8332. 

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