This past Tuesday night the 16 students of the 2023 EPPD Citizens Academy completed their last session.

Citizens Academy is a free six-week class that covers dispatch, traffic, DWIs, unmanned aerial systems (drones), investigations, use of force, SWAT, K-9 and negotiations. Citizens Academy is sponsored by the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund.

During this year’s academy, students had the opportunity to use SWAT team equipment, surveil a “bad guy,” in a mock theft investigation, learn about crowd control with our Mobile Field Force and monitor drone activity from a command center. In addition, they met the K-9 handlers and went behind the scenes with the department’s 911 dispatchers.

If you’re interested in participating in a future Citizens Academy, watch the department’s blog and Facebook page for registration information.