Citizen’s Police Academy
During the spring of each year, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department sponsors a Citizen’s Police Academy. The academy is ten weeks long and meets one night each week. The Citizen’s Academy is free of charge and open to any interested person, not just Lower Paxton Township residents, although preference will be given to those who reside in Lower Paxton Township. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
The curriculum includes an overview of the various duties of a Lower Paxton Twp. police officer. Participants receive training in areas such as the Police Officer Hiring Process, the Municipal Police Officers Training Academy, Crimes and Vehicle Codes, Patrol Functions, Traffic Safety, Criminal Investigation, the School Resource Officer Program and Fire/Arson Investigations. There are presentations provided by members of the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team, the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office, Dauphin County Adult Probation and the Neighborhood Dispute Settlement. Tours of the Dauphin County Communications Center, the Dauphin County Prison and the Herbert Schaffner Juvenile Detention Facility round out the instruction.
Participants receive both classroom and “hands on” training in areas such as the use of force and FATS (Firearms Training Simulator) training.
Class size is limited to twenty students. Applications are available online, at the Lower Paxton Twp. Police Dept. or you may request an application by mail. If you have any questions, please contact Sergeant Thomas Waller or Officer John Stoner of the Community Policing Unit at 657-5656. |
