The Lakewood Police Department Citizens Academy is an annual event where the public can learn about the police from an inside view. The academy includes classroom-style teaching as well as hands-on training from Lakewood police staff.
Dates:
• Tues, June 30th: Welcome / Department overview / tour
• Tues, July 7th: Patrol operations / Marine Services / Drones
• Tues, July 14: SouthSound 911 (Dispatch/Records) / Community Policing
• Sat July 18th: Emergency Vehicle Operations Training
• Tues, July 21st: Criminal Investigations / Critical Incident Response / Special Assault Unit
• Tues, July 28th: K-9 program overview / Special Response Team
• Tues, August 4th: Behavioral Health Contact Team / Auto Theft Taskforce / Forensic Services
• Tues, August 11th: Courts / Civil Disturbance / Force and Defensive Tactics
• Sat, August 15th: Use of Force Scenarios / Virtual Reality
• Tues, August 18th: EOC / Emergency Management / Traffic Enforcement / Media and PIO
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted
About
The Lakewood Citizens Academy is an annual event hosted by the Lakewood Police Department. Held at the police station, this is an opportunity for residents to learn about police operations first-hand from Lakewood officers, detectives and command staff.
Weekly topics offer snapshots of what police learn as part of their training to become sworn officers. This includes patrol responsibilities, criminal investigations, child abuse cases, K9 officers, the city’s Behavioral Health Contact Team, use of force and how the court system works in Lakewood and Pierce County.
Activities:
- Interactive training from police officers that allows to you to better understand the world of police work in your community.
- Experience the same training as our officers:
- Emergency vehicle operations course driving: Participants will get behind the wheel of a patrol car and maneuver it through a slow-speed course.
- Virtual reality firearms training: Students will face “real-life” experiences and encounters to learn how officers have to make split-second decisions when on duty.
- Have direct access to our officers, detectives and command staff to ask questions.
2026 Citizens Academy Application
Applications are due no later than close of business on Thursday June 5th.
By applying applicants agree to a criminal background check as part of the review and selection process into the academy.
Past Citizens Academies
