Prince George's County opens new PGPD Citizens' Police Academy class

Prince George’s County opened applications July 21 for a new PGPD Citizens’ Police Academy class that will put residents inside Police Plaza in Upper Marlboro for 13 weeks. The Monday-night program begins Sept. 14 and runs from 6 to 9 p.m., giving adults 18 and older a structured look at how the county police department works.

County and police officials are pitching the academy as a practical way to build trust at a time when Prince George’s residents continue to debate policing, response times and accountability. The class is designed as more than a tour. PGPD says participants will take part in hands-on activities, open discussions and sessions focused on patrol, investigations, training and policy.

The application deadline is Sept. 4. PGPD’s event listing says the academy is open to adults 18 and older, and department social posts say it is open to Prince George’s County residents and employees. One PGPD post also says applicants must have no felony convictions, which narrows the field to people who meet the department’s screening criteria and can commit to the weekly schedule.

For residents who want to understand police operations before they weigh in at a community meeting or raise concerns about public safety, the academy offers direct access to the department’s own setting. PGPD has pointed to Cpl. Heatley as a past participant, showing that the academy has been used before as a recurring outreach program rather than a one-time event.

The format keeps the same basic structure: a 13-week class, held Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Police Plaza in Upper Marlboro. County officials did not spell out every lesson in the brief announcement, but the published academy page and PGPD posts make clear that the goal is to show how patrol, investigations, training and policy fit together inside the department. Residents who want to apply have until Sept. 4 to get their names in.