Diversity & Aboriginal Policing Section (DAPS) : Hate Crimes Unit | Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC) | Citizens Police Academy | Diversity & Aboriginal Policing Section FAQs

Citizens' Police Academy

The Citizens' Police Academy is a Vancouver Police Department outreach program geared towards community leaders. The aim of this program is to:

• provide the leaders with a deeper understanding of the multitude of problems, policies, and complex tasks police officers face each day
• increase community confidence in the VPD
• build a stronger partnership between the community and the Vancouver Police Department

A typical class includes persons from various ethnic communities, religious denominations, criminal justice departments, the Vancouver Police Board, advocacy / advisory groups, and business, political, and social agencies.
Two classes are offered per year, one in the Spring and the other in the Fall. The program consists of classroom discussions and off-site activities.

Class Information

Two classes are offered per year, one in the Spring and the other in the Fall. The program consists of classroom discussions and off-site activities.

Classroom lectures may include presentations from the following sections:

• Drugs
• Investigations
• Emergency Response Team / Crowd Control Unit
• Use of Force
• Forensic Identification
• Dog Squad
• Recruiting
• Traffic Accident Investigations
• Hostage Negotiations

Off-site engagement can include:

• a tour of the stables by the Mounted Unit at Stanley Park
• a tour and boating with the Marine Unit
• a tour of a mock grow-operation at National Yards
• a trial of the P.O.P.A.T. (Police Officers Physical Aptitude Test) in the gym
• force options training in the gym
• firearms training/shooting at the new VPD range
• a street demonstration of a police dog in action
• a tour of the Forensic Identification facility

CPA Instructors

The instructors are mainly police members and personnel from the Vancouver Police Department who are trained and experienced in the subjects they teach. Their stories and opinions give the participants a broader perspective on policing.

CPA Selection Process

Participants are selected to reflect the broadest possible range of individuals who have a significant role within the community, based upon their employment and or affiliations. Efforts are also made to obtain a diverse class based on age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or religious backgrounds.

All candidates must undergo a background check and sign a waiver of liability. If selected, a $50 non-refundable registration fee must be submitted to the Vancouver Police Department.