• Citizen Academy Is Not The Basic Peace Officer Academy

    The Riverside Police Department's Citizens Academy is not designed to prepare participants to become police officers or provide training in the field of law enforcement. For recruitment information, to apply for a police officer position, or for more information on the basic peace officer academy, please visit www.joinrpd.org.

  • Riverside Police Department Citizen Academy

     

    Eligibility Requirements:

    Applicants for the Riverside Police Department Citizens Academy must meet the following criteria:

    1. Live, work, or attend school in the City of Riverside
    2. Be at least 18 years of age or older
    3. Pass an informal background - Have no felony convictions, outstanding warrants, or pending criminal cases. 

     

    Riverside Police Department’s Citizens Academy is coordinated by the Community Services Bureau (CSB) and offers participants a unique opportunity to gain an insider’s perspective on the operations and functions of the Riverside Police Department and to foster stronger relationships with community. Participants will experience interactive presentations and have direct interactions with sworn and professional staff, learning about various aspects of law enforcement, including specialized community engagement units, department hiring processes, and more.

    Citizens Academy runs in the Spring, with eleven (11) weekly sessions held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., primarily at the department’s Magnolia Station, located at 10540 Magnolia Avenue, Suite B., Riverside, CA 92505. 

    Class size is limited to 50 participants and seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who successfully pass an informal background check.  Eligibility for attendance is at the sole discretion of the Riverside Police Department and investigative results will not be disclosed to applicants. Submittal of an application is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Citizens Academy program. Applicants will be notified of their status via email by end of day, January 14, 2027.


    For more information, contact:

    Riverside Police Department - Community Services Bureau

    Andrew Guerra, Community Services Officer

    (951) 826-5147 | AGuerra@RiversideCA.gov



    Citizens Academy | Spring 2027
    Thursday’s: February 4 – April 15, 2027
    6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

    RPD Magnolia Police Station – 10540 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505

     

    ATTENDANCE POLICY

    FIRST SESSION ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. First session no shows will be dropped from the program. To receive a Certificate of Completion, participants must be present for nine (9) of the eleven (11) weeks.




  • Applicant Information

  • Date Of Birth*
     - -
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
  • Sex:*
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • How are you connected to the City of Riverside? *

  • If you DO NOT live in the City or Riverside, please complete the information below

  • What Neighborhood Policing Center (NPC) is you City of Riverside connection in?

  • If you do not know which Neighborhood Policing Center (NPC) your qualified address is in, you can click on the following link: 

    NPC Lookup

    Just enter the qualified address in the search field in the top left, and it will show you your Reporting District, NPC, Council Ward, and the name of the neighborhood.

  • Have you ever been arrested or convicted of any criminal offense?*
  • Do you have any medical conditions that limit your activities or require reasonable accommodation? RPD Personnel will reach out at a later date, should you be accepted, for details to accommodate.*
  • How did you hear about this program?*

  • IMPORTANT NOTICE

    By clicking ‘Submit’ you are confirming that all the information listed in the application is true and correct under penalty of perjury.

    All applications will have a background check as part of the application process. Eligibility for attendance is at the sole discretion of the Riverside Police Department and investigative results will not be disclosed to applicants. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Submittal of an application is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Citizens Academy program. A Community Services Officer will email you the status of your application two weeks prior to the start of the academy.

    For more information, contact the Riverside Police Department’s Community Services Bureau at (951) 826-5147 or email AGuerra@RiversideCA.gov.


    Attendance Policy

    If selected to participate, YOU MUST ATTEND THE FIRST NIGHT. First night no shows will be dropped from the program. To receive a Certificate of Completion, participants must be present for nine (9) of the eleven (11) weeks. The Attendance Policy applies to absences with or without notification.

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