City of Zephyrhills

The Citizens� Police Academy was designed to create a better understanding and communication between citizens and the police through education. The intent of the Citizens� Police Academy is to make citizens aware of how the Zephyrhills Police Department operates and its role in the community. Citizens of the greater Zephyrhills area are given an opportunity to increase their understanding of how police officers are trained, the skills acquired, and experience the actual working environment of a police officer.

The Citizen�s Police Academy is a two-way education process. Academy participants, who often have had limited exposure to the inner workings of a Police Department, will now be presented with the opportunity to voice their concerns and question how the Zephyrhills Police Department functions.

The Department will have an opportunity to get an understanding of how citizens feel about their Police Department and, in doing so, will be provided with an effective way to better serve and address the concerns of residents.

Classes are currently held in the Fall and Spring.

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY REQUIREMENTS

-APPLICANTS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE TO APPLY AND MUST SIGN AN INDEMNITY RELEASE. BACKGROUND CHECKS WILL BE COMPLETED ON EACH APPLICANT. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE CHIEFS APPROVAL.INCOMPLETE AND/OR UNSIGNED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

1. Must not be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving "moral turpitude" and who has not been released or discharged under less than honorable conditions from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.

2. Shall not have used, tried, tasted, experimented with or possessed any illegal controlled substance within the twelve months prior to application.

3. Shall not have used, tried, tasted, experimented with or possessed any illegal controlled substance classified as a Schedule I substance (except cannabis) or Schedule II substance as enumerated in Florida Statute 893.03 within the sixty (60) months prior to application.

4. Shall not have sold or delivered any illegal controlled substance at any time.

5. A CJSTC guideline background check will be performed by the Zephyrhills Police Departments Back Ground Investigator. The check will include, but not be limited to:

a. Local criminal history

b. National criminal history

c. Drivers license history

For more information please contact: Lori Tindall, Crime Prevention Supervisor.

Community services is overseen by the Crime Prevention Supervisor with 28 volunteer assistants.