EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)—Las Cruces Police is accepting applications for the 2025 Citizens Police Academy, which will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 18. There is room for 20 students.
The academy is a tuition-free, four-week program designed to introduce community members to the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), the department said in a news release.
LCPD said the academy is designed to teach citizens about the philosophy, policies, and guiding principles of law enforcement and ethical conduct governing police services in our community.
Students will receive classroom instruction and scenario-based training exercises by personnel for topics including, but not limited to:
Search and seizure
Criminal law
Use of force
Human performance
Crisis intervention techniques
LCPD said some of the exercises may require light physical activity and induce stress.
During and after training is completed, students are given the opportunity to complete an eight-hour ride-along with a police officer.
This ride-along is usually an “eye-opening experience” for many students as they get to see the real day-to-day activities of the police, LCPD said.
Student requirements:
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
Applicants can not have any felony convictions
Applicants can not have any misdemeanor or DWI arrests within the last three years before the application date
Applicants must pass a background check conducted by LCPD
It is preferred applicants be a resident of Las Cruces
“Please do not let these requirements keep you from applying. We do not automatically eliminate candidates from attending the Citizen’s Police Academy based on the above requirements. All applications are individually reviewed, and attendance decisions are made on a case-by-case basis,” read the news release.
LCPD said applications can be turned in at the East Mesa Public Safety Complex, 550 N Sonoma Ranch Blvd., or the LCPD main station, 217 E. Picacho Ave., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday or from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
All applications are due by noon on Friday, Jan. 17.
The academy’s class schedule is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the East Mesa Public Safety Complex. The first session is set to begin on Feb. 18, and the last session/graduation will be held on March 13.
Upon successful completion of the academy, participants attend a graduation ceremony and are awarded a certificate for completing the program, LCPD said.
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