Coon Rapids Police Department Opens Registration for 2026 Community Police Academy

The Coon Rapids Police Department is preparing to welcome residents into its 2026 Community Police Academy (CPA)—a redesigned and modernized successor to the department’s former Citizens Academy. The seven-week program, widely regarded as one of the city’s most effective community-policing initiatives, is built to deepen public understanding of law enforcement while fostering trust, transparency, and meaningful dialogue between officers and residents.

The upcoming academy will run Tuesdays, January 13 through February 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Coon Rapids Police Department. Registration opens December 1, with limited capacity to ensure hands-on engagement throughout the program.

A Modern, Immersive Look at Public Safety

The CPA is intentionally designed as both educational and experiential, giving participants a comprehensive look at how modern policing works from inside the department. Each week is led by different officers and subject-matter experts, allowing class members to engage with multiple divisions and personnel.

Core components of the program include:

Understanding Department Operations

Participants receive an overview of how the Coon Rapids Police Department is structured, from patrol divisions to investigations to specialized units.

Use of Force & De-escalation

Officers walk participants through critical-decision making, de-escalation strategies, and the realities of use-of-force encounters—contextualizing how officers are trained to diffuse high-stress situations.

Tools, Technology, and Techniques

Residents get a close look at the equipment and technology officers rely on daily, including squad car systems, body-worn cameras, forensic tools, and protective gear.

Responding to Mental Health Crises

As mental-health-related calls continue to rise nationwide, the CPA dedicates time to how the department approaches crisis response, including collaboration with embedded social workers and community partners.

Hands-On Demonstrations

The academy places strong emphasis on experiential learning:

• K9 Demonstrations: Meet and observe the department’s K9 team in action.
• DUI Enforcement Demos: Learn how officers detect impaired driving and conduct sobriety testing.
• Ride-Alongs: Participants—if eligible—may join officers on patrol to experience real-time policing.

These sessions are designed to demystify police procedures, encourage open conversation, and give residents a grounded understanding of public safety work in Coon Rapids.

Building Bridges Through Transparency

The CPA is more than a training series—it’s a relationship-building effort. Residents routinely describe the program as transformative, citing the value of speaking directly with officers, asking questions in a candid setting, and seeing first-hand what unfolds on a typical shift.

Department leaders emphasize that strengthening relationships with the community is at the heart of the program. By giving participants tangible insight into law-enforcement work, the CPA aims to reduce misconceptions, broaden understanding, and promote collaborative public safety.

Registration and Contact Information

The free program typically accommodates around 20 participants, ensuring an intimate and interactive learning environment. Online registration opens December 1 on the City of Coon Rapids website.

For questions about the 2026 Community Police Academy—including eligibility requirements or details about weekly sessions—residents may contact the department’s designated program coordinator, such as Sergeant Cameron Gustafson, whose contact information is available on the city’s official website.

MinneapoliMedia