Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police will host two Citizens’ Police Academy (CPA) sessions in Dauphin and York Counties. The program, which runs from October into December, is intended to expand a citizen’s knowledge and understanding of the law and explore police procedures from the perspective of the state police.
“The purpose of the CPA is to give the community a better understanding of what we do, how we do it, and why we do it,” said Trooper Angel Garcia, Community Services Officer, Troop H. “The course is free, is in a classroom setting, and does not involve running or physical activity.”
The CPA involves ten weeks of classroom-setting instruction in two-hour segments. Students can expect presentations on topics such as patrol and crime functions, arson and crash investigations, the use and operation of the judicial system, as well as other classes. Students must attend 75 percent or more of the scheduled classes to be eligible to graduate and receive a certificate.
The state police hosted the first CPA in 1999. Recently, Captain Adam Kosheba, Commanding Officer of Troop H, reenergized the program, which hasn’t been offered in Troop H since 2013. “In light of the current environment between law enforcement and the communities in which they serve, I thought it was important to find more ways to bridge that gap and try and reduce that tension,” said Kosheba. “Law enforcement and the community need each other to be successful in making Pennsylvania as safe as possible – and this CPA can help bridge that gap.”
Participants are selected from interested applicants and class sizes are limited. Applicants must be 18 years of age to apply and a resident of Pennsylvania. Applications may be picked up at Troop H, Harrisburg Station, 8000 Bretz Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 or Troop H, York Station, 110 Trooper Court, York, PA 17403. Applicants may email Trooper Garcia at agarcia@pa.gov or Trooper Ed Asbury at easbury@pa.gov to request an electronic application. The deadline for application submission is Sept. 23, 2015.
- The Dauphin County CPA will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM every Wednesday night from Oct. 7, 2015 to Dec. 9, 2015 at the YWCA Greater Harrisburg, 1101 Market Street, Harrisburg PA 17103, (717) 234-7931.
- The York County CPA will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM every Monday night from Oct. 5, 2015 to Dec. 14, 2015 at the YWCA Community Senior Center, 5 Pendryus Street, Suite 1., Delta, PA 17314, (717) 456-5733.
For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit their website at www.psp.pa.gov.