The Albemarle County Police Department is pleased to once again offer the Citizens Police Academy. 

The purpose of the Citizens Police Academy is to give members of our community insight into the daily operations of the police department and to better understand the role law enforcement plays in developing safe communities. Not only do participants get more insight into ACPD, they also get hands-on experience and participate in different scenarios that officers could potentially encounter.

The Citizens Police Academy is a 3-day commitment and will be held from 9 am to 3:30 pm at the Albemarle County Police Department (1600 5th Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902) on:

• Saturday, February 21, 2026
• Saturday, February 28, 2026
• Saturday, March 7, 2026

There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided. Program highlights include ride-alongs, crime scene investigation, traffic enforcement, K-9's, virtual reality simulators, and more.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age, live or own a business in Albemarle County, and successfully pass a background check.

*This program is not an accredited certification course to become a sworn police officer. For information regarding employment as a police officer, please visit www.albemarle.org/BeACPD.

Due to an overwhelming amount of interest, applications for the 2026 Citizens Police Academy are now closed. If you're interested in being notified when the 2027 application opens, please enter your name and email below.

Citizens Police Academy Application