The next Citizens' Police Academy, Class 33, begins in June! May 20 is the deadline to apply.

Contact Officer Tony Valdez for information.
281-337-6370
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Dickinson Citizens' Police Academy

The Dickinson Police Department Citizens' Police Academy (DCPA) is an interactive program designed to give citizens a thorough understanding of the department, its operations and personnel. It provides citizens with the opportunity to interact with the officers and administrators, giving them a first-hand experience in meeting and learning about the men and women who make up the divisions of the department and who serve the community.

Started in 1999, the DCPA has been in continuous operation with two sessions each year and can proudly point to more than 400 citizens having completed the course.

Teaching Staff & Speakers

The DCPA teaching staff is comprised of police officers, detectives, department administrators, jail staff and the liaison from the Crime Victim's Program. 

The DCPA curriculum will have sessions on the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the Penal Code, the Health and Safety Code and the Transportation Code. Specific programs on areas like traffic enforcement, narcotics, criminal investigations, canine patrol and juvenile law are also included. Of special interest are the classes on Use of Force and Firearms. Citizens are given the opportunity to fire a weapon in a supervised setting at a range.

Program Details

The DCPA program meets every Thursday for fifteen weeks. The sessions normally last about three to four hours and individual classes missed may be attended in a later program. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants. All class members must have applied prior to and been accepted before attending any class. The application process does involve a background check of each individual and participants cannot have been convicted of a felony or be in current litigation.

There is no fee for the program and the Dickinson Police Department provides all materials.

Volunteer Expectations

The Dickinson Police Department requires all members to subscribe to its ethical standard of conduct and to act in a reasonable, considerate and professional manner to fellow members and to the public at all times.