Citizen Police Academy

The Piscataway Township Police Department has found that education has been the most effective way in gaining the understanding and support from the community.  Through implementation of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA), the Department offers residents a new insight into how police officers perform their duties, as well as how their police department serves the community.  The mission of the program is to foster better communications between our residents and police through education, as well as create a nucleus of well-informed citizens who will possess greater insight into police practices, guidelines, demands of personnel, policies and services.  We believe that the success of the police department depends largely upon the amount of   cooperation and support it receives from the citizens it serves.

The C.P.A. lasts 12 weeks, concluding with a graduation.  The classes are held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday evenings and one selected Saturday.  The next class is scheduled to begin in February 2016.

The program is open to Township Residents who are over 21 years of age and successfully complete a thorough background  investigation.  There is no cost.

The instruction is comprehensive, covering different areas of the police department each week.  Police Officers with particular expertise will instruct each topic.  A wide variety of training topics include an overview of the      Department’s organization and structure, recruitment and training, and the roles and responsibilities of each division and section.  In addition, participants will be given an opportunity to experience a “ride along” with a police officer on patrol.

Applications for the next class will be available in December of 2015.  If you have any questions contact Detective Calvin Laughlin at (732) 562-2349.