CITIZEN’S ACADEMY
The Dover Police Department is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Citizen’s Police Academy. The Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) is a program that meets once a week on Wednesday evenings from 6:00p.m-9:00pm. The academy will begin on September 9th and end on November 4th, 2026. This program is designed to provide members of the Dover community with additional knowledge about their police department. It allows citizens of Dover to become more educated on Dover Police Department procedure and the pressures associated within law enforcement. We seek and invite a diverse group of people who either live in or work in the City of Dover to apply. You do not have to be a Dover citizen to attend. There is no cost to attend the Citizen Police Academy. Applicants must be 18 YEARS OF AGE or older.
The application process has been closed due to a high volume of applicants, exceeding class capacity.
There are LIMITED spots available for the 2026 class.
The purpose of the Citizen Police Academy is to accomplish three goals:
- To educate community members in Dover Police Department procedures and the pressures associated within law enforcement
- To allow the citizens of Dover to meet the men and women who serve them
- To provide Dover Police Department officers the opportunity to meet and hear from the citizens they serve.
Citizen Police Academy members are given a realistic view of the Department. Topics presented include:
Meet the Chief/Q& A
Community Policing
Laws of Arrest
Search and Seizure
Emergency Communications (9-1-1 Center)
Internal Affairs
Criminal Investigations
Crisis Negotiation Team
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)/Forensics
Patrol Operations
Canine Unit
Drugs/Vice/Organized Crime Unit
Special Operations Response Team (SORT)
Use of Force Training
Traffic Stops
Public Information
The academy meets once a week at the Dover Police Department on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-9pm.
Presentations consist of lectures, demonstrations, videos, computer presentations, and “hands on” participation. Each participant is given the opportunity to ride with an officer for one shift.