Coon Rapids Police Open Registration for 2026 Community Police Academy

COON RAPIDS, Minn. - The Coon Rapids Police Department has opened registration for its 2026 Community Police Academy, a free, seven week program designed to give residents a detailed, first hand look at how local law enforcement operates and how public safety decisions are made.

The program, formerly known as the Citizens Academy, has been redesigned to emphasize transparency, practical learning, and direct engagement with officers. Department officials describe it as an immersive introduction to modern policing that moves beyond lectures and into real world scenarios, demonstrations, and dialogue.

Program schedule and location

The Community Police Academy will run on Tuesday evenings from January 13 through February 24, 2026, with sessions held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Classes will take place at the Coon Rapids Police Department, 11155 Robinson Drive NW.

Participation is free of charge, but enrollment is limited to 20 participants to maintain an interactive learning environment.

Inside the academy curriculum

Each weekly session focuses on a different aspect of policing, guided by active duty officers and specialized units within the department.

Participants will learn how the department is structured, including patrol operations, investigations, and specialized response units. Officers will walk attendees through de escalation and decision making techniques, explaining how high stress situations are assessed, how safety is prioritized, and how use of force policies are applied in real time.

Mental health response is also a core component of the curriculum. The academy includes an overview of how the department works with embedded social workers and clinicians to respond to behavioral health crises and connect individuals to appropriate services.

The program features multiple hands on demonstrations, including:

• K9 operations, highlighting tracking, detection, and apprehension techniques
• DUI enforcement, with practical insight into how impaired driving is identified and field sobriety tests are conducted
• Law enforcement technology, such as body worn cameras, squad car systems, and forensic tools

Eligible participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a patrol ride along, offering a direct view of day to day policing in Coon Rapids.

Eligibility and registration

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, although individuals as young as 16 may participate with a signed parental waiver. All participants are required to complete a criminal background check. Preference is generally given to Coon Rapids residents, business owners, and students.

Registration opened on December 1, 2025, and will remain open until January 2, 2026, or until all 20 spots are filled.

Graduates of the program are eligible to join the Community Police Academy Alumni Association, which provides ongoing opportunities for engagement with the department.

How to apply

Residents can register through the city’s official Community Police Academy portal:

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/coonrapids/activity/search/detail/1521

For additional information, questions may be directed to Sergeant Cameron Gustafson at 763 767 7461 or through the City of Coon Rapids official website.

City officials say the academy is intended not only to educate, but to build lasting relationships between officers and the community they serve, strengthening mutual understanding and trust through openness and shared experience.

MinneapoliMedia