Classes will be held Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning Aug. 11 and concluding with graduation on Oct. 20. Photo courtesy of the Rancho Cordova Police Department

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova Police Department (RCPD) is now accepting applications for its Fall 2026 Citizens Academy, a free 11-week program designed to give community members an inside look at local law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

The academy is open to residents and employees in the Rancho Cordova area who are interested in learning how law enforcement and the community work together to keep neighborhoods safe. Participants must be at least 18 years old and successfully pass a basic background check.

Classes will be held Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning Aug. 11 and concluding with graduation on Oct. 20. The application deadline is July 6.

Throughout the program, participants will attend weekly two-hour sessions covering a variety of law enforcement topics, including patrol operations, K9 units, investigations, laws of arrest, internet crimes against children and drone operations. The academy also includes tours of the Sacramento County Main Jail, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Crime Lab and the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office Museum.

The Citizens Academy is designed to build trust, transparency and understanding by providing participants with insight into the “how, what and why” behind police operations and decision-making.

For more information or to apply, visit ranchocordovapd.com/get-involved/citizen-s-academy before the July 6 deadline.