Citizen's Police Academy
What is CPA?
The Coppell Citizen's Police Academy was created to build a bond of mutual trust and respect between the police department and the community. Police work is filled with many variables that require professional solutions. The goal is to reduce perceived suspicions and misconceptions by establishing mutual trust and cooperation between police and the citizens of Coppell.
Classroom presentations, lectures, and hands-on experience offer participants valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of the Police Department.
Department employees receive direct feedback from members of each class. This two-way communication between police officers and the community furthers the effort to improve the quality of life for our residential and business communities.
Learn More about CPA
The Citizen's Police Academy is a 11-week program that meets once a week from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the Coppell Police Department's training room. At the end of the class, there is a graduation ceremony to congratulate the students. To be eligible to participate, class members must be 18 years of age, with a good standing in the community, must pass a background investigation, and either reside or work in Coppell. Class schedules and the associated curriculum are not finalized until the Academy is filled and the instructors for each topic have been chosen.
Experienced police officers provide briefings, demonstrations, and engage in discussions about police operations with class participation. Each week, different areas of law enforcement are covered. This allows citizens to acquire a working knowledge of the activities that the Coppell Police Officers perform.
Class members will have the opportunity for guided tours of Police Headquarters and Communications. Participants are also given the opportunity to take part in "hands-on" training that is required for the training of new police recruits. The "ride along" program allows students an insight into a day in the life of a Coppell police officer.
Class Topics Include:
- Patrol
- Criminal Investigations
- Crime Scene Investigations
- Building Searches
- Crime Prevention
- Criminal Law
- Juvenile Law
- Firearms
- Traffic Law & Procedures
- Special Weapons and Tactics
- School Resource Officer
- Communications
- Special Investigations Unit
- Jail Procedures
The Next C.P.A. Class will begin January 19, 2017!
The Citizen's Police Academy Class will begin on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 6:30pm. The class is held every Thursday evening at the Coppell Police Station from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM for approximately 12 weeks. There will be a graduation class scheduled for April 13, 2017. The classes are limited in size. Citizens that successfully complete the Academy receive a Certificate of Completion and are eligible to join the Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAC).
Class members must be 18 years of age with good standing in the community and must pass a background investigation and either reside in or work in Coppell.
For more information contact Officer Peter Dirks at 972-304-3625, or e-mail at pdirks@coppelltx.gov.
To register for the class complete the brochure below and return to Officer Peter Dirks.
Members of CPAC donate their valuable time and efforts in support of community and civic activities. Click here to view CPAC website.
Citizens wanting to volunteer at the Coppell Police Department must take the Citizen's Police Academy Class and join the Alumni Association before they are eligible to volunteer.
JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY - COPPELL (JPAC)
The Coppell Police Department's J.P.A.C. (Junior Police Academy Coppell) is a great opportunity for the youth of Coppell to learn what it takes to be a police officer. There are two different camps that are offered, a BASIC and an ADVANCED camp. During these camps, the students will gain insight into the multiple functions that local law enforcement professionals perform on a daily basis. The students learn about laws, enforcement practices and procedures, and other pertinent information that can affect them in their community. This program is designed for middle-school aged students and is available to anyone who has completed the 6th grade, but has yet to begin high school.
Officers of the Coppell Police Department provide the students with hands on instruction on many different facets of the police profession, including patrol work, crime scene investigation, K-9 handling, and traffic stops. They will also discuss important topics like social media, bullying and online bullying, and bicycle safety. They learn a lot and hopefully have a ton of fun in the process. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a team building, ropes course, and leadership program at Group Dynamix in Carrollton.
BASIC JPAC Activities:
Academy Introduction, Patrol Operations, Vehicles and Equipment, A visit from the Chief of Police, Municipal Court, K-9, Crime Scene Investigation, Bicycle Safety, Traffic Division (radar, traffic stops), Social Networking/Cyber Bullying, Building Searches, Firearms Safety, Self Defense Techniques, Team Building and Leadership Activities!
ADVANCED JPAC Activities:
Narcotics Presentation, Advanced Crime Scene, Investigations, Advanced Building Searches, Self-Defense Strategies and Techniques, Simulated Impaired DriviNg Experience (SIDNE), First Aid/CPR/Emergency Preparedness, Team Building and Leadership Activities
Sessions Dates and Application:
Basic JPAC Session #1: June 18 to June 29 (two weeks, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, M-F only)
Basic JPAC Session #2: July 9 to July 20 (two weeks, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, M-F only)
Advanced JPAC: July 23 to July 27 (one week, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, M-F only)
THE COPPELL POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY COPPELL (JPAC) 2018.
2018 JPAC ApplicationWhat are the requirements to be eligible for JPAC?
If you live in the City of Coppell, or your child attends school in Coppell ISD, they are eligible to attend JPAC. To be eligible, your child must have completed the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade during the 2017-2018 school year. If they are new to the JPAC program, and they have completed the 6th grade, they would be eligible for the Basic JPAC. If they have previously completed a JPAC course with Coppell Police Department, they would be eligible for the Advanced JPAC Academy.
Each Academy will be held at The City of Coppell's Life Safety Park located at 820 S. Coppell Rd. Coppell, TX. 75019. The Academy schedule will have classes and activities outside as well as inside so students should dress appropriately for the summer weather. It is recommended that students bring a hat, sun screen, water bottle/drinks, and a snack each day of the Academy. For more information on dress codes, please read the Rules of Behavior on the JPAC Application.
JPAC is VERY popular, and because of the limited number of camps, we anticipate the camps to fill very soon. All three courses have a maximum number of students allowed, so please be sure to apply or inquire and apply quickly. You can submit the application to your students School Resource Officer at their assigned Coppell Middle School campus.
Please contact Officer Harr with any questions at 214-542-7702, or via email at rharr@coppelltx.gov .
Police ExplorersCoppell Police Department Explorer Post #605
What is Law Enforcement Exploring?
Law Enforcement Exploring is a non-profit organization created by Learning for Life (www.learningforlife.org), a division of the Boy Scouts of America. The program is designed to acquaint young adults (ages 15-21) with the nature and complexities currently facing our nation's law enforcement professionals. The training is as realistic as possible and allows each participant to gage for themselves if the Criminal Justice field is one they should consider as a possible career path. All Explorers are strictly volunteers.
What do Explorers Do?
Explorers provide assistance to the Coppell Police Department and the City of Coppell by volunteering their time at various community events or activities. Some of these activities include crime prevention programs, child safety programs, traffic direction, crowd control, football games, parades, festivals, and assistance with natural disasters/emergencies. Explorers also attend weekly post meetings in order to learn about various law enforcement techniques and practices such as crime scene investigations, fingerprinting, traffic enforcement, handcuffing, building searches and many more facets of the profession.
Explorer Competitions:
Explorers train to compete against other Explorer teams throughout the area, state and even the nation. The Texas Law Enforcement Explorers Advisors Association (TLEEAA) holds an annual event that allows these teams to pit their learned skills against one another, with the top participants and teams receiving awards for their performance. In 2010, our Explorers brought home 2nd Place for "Best Overall Post", which is a huge accomplishment for such a new post. The post has continued to have great success and has gained valuable experience participating in the various competitions open to them. Last year at the 2016 TLEEAA Competition, Coppell Police Explorer Post #605 won the "Best Overall Post" and won the State Competition.
Explorer Academy:
The Coppell Police Department holds a two-week "Explorer Police Academy" during the summer months. The Explorers are exposed to the life of a Police Recruit and what the life of a police recruit is like. Upon completion of this academy, officers from the police department sponsor a banquet dinner and present awards to the Explorers.
Ride-Out Program (Job Shadowing):
The Ride-Out program allows Explorers to ride along with a police officer and observe them as they work in the field. This is a way that Explorers can experience law enforcement first hand and gain a better understanding of the criminal justice system.
Qualifications to join:
Both male and female young adults are encouraged to join. To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Age - Minimum age is 15 years old, with the exception that a student who is 14 years old and has completed the 8th grade can be considered. The maximum age is 21 years old.
School - Be enrolled in school (High School or College) and maintain at least a "C" (70) or higher GPA.
Personal History:
An Explorer cannot have a criminal record, to include arrests or convictions. Traffic violations do not disqualify an applicant unless it is obvious that he/she is a habitual offender. Each applicant is expected to avoid the use of illegal narcotics, alcohol or tobacco products and be sound in their health and fitness. Anyone terminated from employment based on any type of theft or deception is also a disqualifier. Each candidate must pass a background investigation and maintain a neat/clean appearance. A candidate under eighteen (18) years of age must have parental consent to enroll in the program.
What will it cost to join?
Police Exploring is free to join! Explorers must register with Learning for Life upon acceptance. Please contact the Post Advisor for information concerning any associated costs with participation in the Post.
Fund raising, Donations, Sponsors:
The Post accepts financial support from the community it serves. If you would like to donate any money or sponsor the Post in anyway, please contact the Post Advisor for details.
Post Meetings:
Post meetings are held on Monday nights at 6:30pm at Coppell's Life Safety Park located at 820 S. Coppell Rd, Coppell, TX 75019. The meetings usually last until 8:30pm. The schedule for the meetings can be found here. There may be other activities scheduled, please check with the Post Advisors for any additional information.
For more Information, please contact a Post Advisor:
New Tech High @ CoppellOfficer Diane Patterson113 Samuel Blvd.Coppell, Texas. 75019Office: 214-496-6770Email: dpatters@coppelltx.gov | Coppell Middle School NorthOfficer Rachael Freeman120 Natches Trace.Coppell, Texas. 75019Office: 214-496-7194Email: rfreeman@coppelltx.gov |
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