Community Police Academies: Effects on Knowledge of Police Procedures and Perceptions of Police

• In Event: Applied Police Research

Abstract

In Long Beach, California, recent funding has allowed for the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) to host monthly community police academies (CPAs) for community residents. These one-day academies are designed to teach community members about LBPD procedures (laws of arrest, traffic stops, use of force, internal affairs, etc.) and to enhance the public perception of the LBPD and its officers. The current project aims to evaluate empirical data collected on ten of Long Beach’s CPA events. Using pre- and post- data (and some preliminary 6-month follow-up data) from CPA participants, analyses were conducted to determine the effects of attending a community police academy on knowledge of police procedures and attitudes toward the LBPD. With recent nationwide debate and controversy over the use of force and officer accountability, these findings will be discussed with emphasis on the CPA’s utility in enhancing public trust of the police and strengthening community-police relationships.

Authors

• Nicholas Michael Perez, California State University, Long Beach

• Brenda Vogel, California State University, Long Beach

• Trinh Nguyen, California State University, Long Beach