Our Citizen Academy provides a great way for members of the Laguna Beach Community to learn more about the police department and get engaged in their community. The academy is a twelve-week low-stress course designed to foster better communications between police Personnel and citizens. Academy instruction includes the history of the Laguna Beach Police Department, investigations, traffic enforcement, accident investigation, driving under the influence investigation, gangs, narcotics, neighborhood watch, crime prevention, crime scene investigation, police K-9 program, and volunteer programs.

The course also includes a tour of the Laguna Beach police station and patrol vehicles, plus a hands-on look at equipment used by the department. Students also tour the Orange County jail. Academy members have an opportunity to shoot a weapon at the police firing range and participate in mock scenarios.

The program is free and does not require any physical training. The Citizen's Academy is not designed or intended to prepare Academy members for a position in the Laguna Beach Police Department. It is open to people 18 years of age or older who live or work in Laguna Beach, have no felony convictions, have no pending civil or criminal cases with the City or its employees, and have no outstanding warrants for arrest. Acceptance to the program is made on a rolling basis as the completed applications are received. The Laguna Beach Police Department reserves the right to refuse admittance into this program.

When in session, the class is held each Thursday for twelve weeks from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Laguna Beach Police Department. Students graduate on the thirteenth week. When we schedule the next class we will post information about it here. To apply you must register through the City's Recreation Class sign-up which can be found through this link.  

If you would like information, please call (949) 715-0831 or email Nicole Rice at nrice@lagunabeachcity.net.