The Michigan City Police Department offers members of the community who would like to experience the inner workings of what it is like to be a police officer a chance to learn first-hand. Beginning each year in October, the Michigan City Police Citizen’s Police Academy (MCPA) brings the police and the community closer together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant. The program is held each Thursday evening, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for 6 weeks.
All classes are FREE and include all class materials, t-shirts, giveaways and refreshments. Participants receive two and a half hours of training one evening each week for six weeks in many of the varied functions of law enforcement. They experience some of the highlights of police training and are exposed to the daily operations of the police department.
Participants are also taught the basics of criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, firearm safety, taser, traffic laws, hostage negotiations, and many other subjects. They will learn about the processing of a crime scene, how police canines are used, and are exposed to many of the specialty police units. MCPA participants meet and talk with many of the officers as well as the command staff and training staff that serves them. All this takes place in a safe and entertaining training environment at the Police Department and the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall.
Instructors are State certified law enforcement professionals who teach both veteran and recruit police officers. Students leave this training with a greater understanding of the police mission and with an increased ability to see how the police serve our community.