The Huntsville Police Department is now accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Citizens Police Academy, offering residents a behind-the-scenes look at local law enforcement and day-to-day police operations.
The nine-week program is designed to strengthen relationships between HPD and the community through classroom instruction, demonstrations and direct interaction with officers. Participants will learn about the department’s structure, policies and approach to modern policing.
“The Citizens Police Academy gives you a front-row seat to the work we do every day to protect and serve,” HPD Chief Kirk Giles said in a statement. “It’s a rare opportunity to step inside our world, ask questions and see firsthand how trust and teamwork keep Huntsville safe.”
Classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Huntsville Public Safety Training Academy, located at 5365 Triana Blvd. The Spring 2026 session runs from March 24 through May 26.
The academy is open to individuals who are at least 19 years old and live, work, attend college or own a business in the city of Huntsville. Applicants must successfully complete a background check and have no prior felony convictions, outstanding warrants or pending criminal cases.
HPD officials emphasize the Citizens Police Academy is a volunteer educational program intended to inform and engage the community and is not a pathway to employment with the department.
Topics covered during the program include civil and criminal law, community policing, precinct operations, 911 communications, K-9 and SWAT units, domestic violence response, and narcotics and gang investigations.
The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 6. Additional information is available through the Huntsville Police Department, and applications can be submitted online. For questions, the Huntsville Police Academy can be reached at 256-746-4409.
