Citizens Academy

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Citizens' Academy Program

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will not hold a Citizens’ Academy during the Fall of 2024. However, we are currently accepting applications for a future offering. Once a start date is established, all applicants will be notified, and applications will be processed in the order they were received. You must be 21 years old to apply. Please email Lauren.Orosz@cmpd.org if you would like to be notified of the next session.

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.

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 704-621-0402 or email Program Manager Lauren Orosz.


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

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

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)TBD


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: