Apply for MPD's CEA

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Officers from all seven MPD patrol districts pose in front of Chinatown’s friendship archway. Photo courtesy MPD.

Officers from all seven MPD patrol districts pose in front of Chinatown’s friendship archway. Photo courtesy MPD.

By Salah Czapary, Director, Office of Volunteer Coordination, Metropolitan Police Department, salah.czapary@dc.gov, (202) 727- 6587

MPD is currently preparing for its spring cohort of the Community Engagement Academy. To join the upcoming academy, please complete and return the packet by the new deadline of March 15. The kick-off event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, 2019. (The summer cohort launches in mid-June.)

Since 2015 the Metropolitan Police Department has held a Community Engagement Academy for residents of the District and community leaders to gain insight into the operations and functions of MPD. The goal of this initiative is to provide participants with insight into the challenges that officers are confronted with on a daily basis. Additionally, the program is a forum for members of the community to participant in the relevant discourses of policing.

The Community Engagement Academy is an 8-week training program composed of a mixture of nights and weekends. (See page 5 of the packet for the schedule.) Locations of each session vary, but when not metro accessible, transportation will be provided by MPD. Additionally, we request that participants attend all scheduled sessions. To date, over 200 community members from all seven police districts have completed the more than 28 hours of training, tours, discussion, and presentations.

Participants will join discussions and presentations on the following topics:

  • Overview of our recruiting efforts and our recruit training program

  • Common policing scenarios and challenges

  • Juvenile issues and youth investigations

  • Overview of patrol services and station tour

  • Overview of 911 communications

  • Overview of specialized policing units (e.g., K-9, bomb squad, harbor patrol)

  • Use of force discussion and hands-on training

  • Role of police in society—a guided tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

  • Race and policing in Washington, DC—walking tour of U Street

  • Discussion on relevant policing topics with command staff members

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier and Kishan Putta in 2015. Photo courtesy Kishan Putta.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier and Kishan Putta in 2015. Photo courtesy Kishan Putta.

“As part of the CEA, you’ll ride along with patrol officers and harbor patrol boats and meet the bomb squad as well as trained K-9 patrol dogs. It's a great experience that gives you both the perspective of law enforcement and the opportunity to raise questions about policing and even to advocate for changes/improvements in policing. I took advantage of both—and suggested some changes including better training on cultures and religions and hate crimes.” — ANC 2E commissioner and 2015 CEA cohort member Kishan Putta