Community Police Academy

The Community Police Academy is about mutual understanding and forming relationships around our common goal of keeping everyone safe.

UIPD’s Community Police Academy provides a behind-the-scenes experience to learn about police operations, investigations, crime prevention, and specialized units. It is an opportunity for you to participate in hands-on learning, demonstrations, and presentations from current police officers.

It is a free four-week course involving one three-hour class per week, and it takes place on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. It is free of charge and open to everyone. Space is limited, so participants will be selected on an application basis. U. of I. students, faculty and staff are given preference.

Typically, we hold one academy per semester. Join our mailing list to receive early notification of upcoming or future academy dates.

Join our mailing list

Registration is not currently open, but join our mailing list to be notified when the next academy is scheduled.

Fall 2023 schedule

Registration for the Spring 2023 academy is closed. Dates for the Fall 2023 academy have not yet been announced.

Week 1

  • Introduction
  • Overview of UIPD, COAST and REACH
  • 911 and dispatch

Week 2

  • Investigations
  • Sexual Assault
  • Crime Scene Investigation/Fingerprints/DNA

Week 3

  • Traffic stops
  • SWAT operations
  • Bomb squad
  • K9 Unit

Week 4

  • Use of force
  • Officer-involved shootings
  • Simulation
  • Graduation