Cherry Hill residents can apply for the police department's sixth annual Citizen Police Academy, a free nine-week program starting in January.
The academy meets every Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 820 Mercer St., running Jan. 13 through March 10, 2027, according to the Cherry Hill Police Department's website. Applications are open now.
Only 30 spots are available.
The program covers the department's operational policies and day-to-day functions. Participants interact with officers across different divisions and learn about the people, programs and services that make up the department over the nine-week span.
To qualify, applicants must be adults who live in Cherry Hill and have not previously completed the academy. They also cannot have felony convictions or pending criminal actions at the time of application.
The academy has drawn recognition from township leaders after previous sessions. At a Feb. 9 council meeting, Councilman Connor called the program a valuable community resource and highlighted a session led by Sergeant Amato.
At the March 23 council meeting, the mayor attended the academy's graduation ceremony and recognized the program's leadership. Councilman DiRenzo also noted the opening of registration for a separate Junior Police Academy at that same meeting.
The Citizen Police Academy is distinct from the Junior Police Academy and other Cherry Hill Police Department community programs. It is the only one offering a multi-week, immersive look at department operations for adult residents.
The department has not announced an application deadline. Residents interested in applying can find the registration form on the Cherry Hill Police Department's website. With the class capped at 30 participants, spots could fill before the Jan. 13 start date.
