The Community Police Academy is a fourteen-week program designed to give the public a working knowledge of the Austin Police Department. Each session consists of weekly classes that meet at Austin Police Headquarters. The instruction is comprehensive, each week different units within the department are covered.

The slogan of the Community Police Academy is, “Understanding through Education.” The goal is to educate the public about the Austin Police Department and to increase the rapport between community members and police officers.

We hope the graduates of the Community Police Academy become more aware and better informed about how the Police Department operates, and will encourage friends, coworkers and families to join the Austin Police Department in this rewarding program.

Due to COVID-19, we have suspended the Fall Session of the Community Police Academy. Please check back here or email the Community Police Academy for updates. 

As of December 2019, 2,716 community members have graduated from 101 classes. Two concurrent classes are hosted twice a year at APD Headquarters, 715 E 8th Street.

Austin Community Police Academy Alumni Association

CPA Testimonials

Class Curriculum

  • Meet the Chief
  • Perspectives of Racial Profiling 
  • Recruiting
  • APD Cadet Training
  • Internal Affairs
  • Special Investigative Unit
  • District Representatives
  • Emergency Communications/PIO
  • Response to Resistance
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Critical Incidents
  • Family Violence
  • Sex Crimes
  • Gang Unit
  • Human Trafficking
  • Bomb Squad
  • K-9
  • S.W.A.T
  • Air Operations
  • Burglary
  • Robbery
  • Homicide
  • Cold Case
  • ARIC
  • INTEL
  • Highway Enforcement
  • DWI
  • Mounted Patrol
  • Animal Cruelty
  • APD Explorers/Police Activities League (PAL)