{"id":53,"date":"2017-02-02T09:41:32","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T14:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.columbus.in.gov\/police\/?page_id=53"},"modified":"2026-01-12T15:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T20:16:28","slug":"public-safety-academy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.columbus.in.gov\/police\/info-documents\/public-safety-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Safety Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 2026 Public Safety Citizens Academy now full. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2026 session will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 pm starting on February 12th and going until April 30th. There will be no class on March 19th for spring break. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Public Safety Citizens Academy is a free eleven-week program designed to educate local residents about public safety operations. During previous classes, participants learned about the Columbus Police Department Bomb Squad, SWAT Team, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics\/Vice Units and K-9 Division.<\/p>\n

Participants will have the opportunity to fire police weapons at the department\u2019s gun range. They will also use the Columbus Fire Department\u2019s equipment to cut open a wrecked vehicle in a mock extrication scenario and put out an actual fire using a fire extinguisher. One class will be spent touring the Bartholomew County Jail, and another will encompass a visit to the Bartholomew County 9-1-1 Center.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of local residents have completed the Citizens\u2019 Academy since it started in the mid-1990s. CPD Lt. Matt Harris, one of the academy organizers, said, “This is an excellent opportunity for residents to experience first hand how our public safety personnel help keep Columbus safe. Few people outside the world of public safety will experience what academy participants get to see and do during this course.”<\/p>\n

Participants must be at least 18 years old and agree to undergo a criminal background check.<\/p>\n

The Public Safety Citizens’ Academy will give residents the chance to learn more about public safety in Columbus and Bartholomew County. Questions about this program can be directed to Lt. Skylar Berry at 812-376-2605 or sberry@columbus.in.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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