Community Police Academy

Over the years, the Toronto Police Service has engaged in various levels of community consultations in an effort to improve transparency and understanding of policing in the communities we serve. The Civilian Police College was first introduced on September 18, 1996. The program was developed to create awareness within our community of the challenges of policing our diverse city in the 1990's. The program was cancelled in 2006. 

In partnership with Humber College, the Community Police Academy was re-launched on October 22, 2016 at the request of Chief Mark Saunders and Deputy Chief Peter Yuen. The Service’s Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER) and the Transformational Task Force (TTF) both recognized the need to educate the public and enhance information-sharing with the community in order to forge better relationships. The creation of the Community Police Academy addresses the suggestions made in the PACER Report and clearly illustrates the Service’s commitment to the TTF principles of an Actively Accountable and Trusted, Transparent and Engaged and Inclusive and Collaborative Police Service. 
 
The goals and objectives for the Community Police Academy: 

• To reinforce the Service’s commitment to the PACER recommendations and TTF principles 
• To foster enhanced community/police partnerships by creating an environment of increased trust, cooperation, and collaboration between the community and the police through education
• Provide an opportunity for interested community members to better understand the role of modern policing in Toronto 
• Have a better understanding of the policies and laws that guide the decision making of officers and police practices through in-class and scenario based training
• Have an appreciation for the complexities of policing a large city and the daily operations of the Toronto Police Service

This nine-week course will teach you all about policing in Toronto.  From our rich history, to neighbourhood policing, to crime scene management, to how we investigate violent crimes, the lessons will give you deeper knowledge into how, and why, we do the things we do.

Taught by subject matter experts at the Service, students will also gain a better understanding of how they can partner with us to keep our communities safe. 

The Academy is free to anyone 16 years of age and older who lives, works, or volunteers in the city of Toronto.  Students must attend every week in order to graduate; exceptions will only be made under exigent circumstances.

Hosted by the Toronto Police College, located at 70 Birmingham Street in south Etobicoke, this best-in-class training facility will offer in-class lectures and discussions as well as practical exercises. 

The Toronto Police Service has partnered with Humber College to offer credits upon successful completion of the Community Police Academy. Graduates will be recognized by Chief Mark Saunders and will be eligible for exemption from one course (3 credits) in Humber’s Police Foundations Diploma.

In order to apply for a transfer credit, students need to be aware of the following:

• The Community Police Academy Graduate must secure themselves a Humber College Student number if they do not already have one. Please call 416-675-5005.
• The student must fill in a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Application (PLAR).
• Applicants must be 18+.
• The Humber course code to be used on the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Application (PLAR) is PFP 204- Community Policing.
• The student must attach copies of the Certificate of Completion signed and issued by the TPS.
• The student must also include the Course Training Standard Syllabus with their application.
• The application must be submitted to the Registrar’s office for processing.
• There is a fee associated with transfer credits. That fee is currently $90.64.
• Academy Graduates will not be given Humber course credit if they are already full-time students in the Police Foundations Diploma program.

To learn more about Humber College's Police Foundations Diploma, please visit the course website.

Our Academy will be a place where the public can learn about the police, community safety and crime prevention.  We want our communities to be informed so they can be empowered to positively impact community safety and well-being.

Course Outline

A complete schedule will be available on the first day of class but students can expect the curriculum to include the following areas of the Toronto Police Service:

• Police Training: arrest authorities, use of force, police vehicles, practical scenarios
• Investigations: Homicide, Sex Crimes, Firearms, Cybercrime, and Forensics
• Topics of interest: Mental Health, Diversity, Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence, Traffic Safety, Community Partnerships and Neighbourhood Policing

Read More

Community Close Up of Policing (tpsnews.ca, June 18, 2017)

School in Session (tpsnews.ca, April 4, 2017)

Empowering Community (tpsnews.ca, December 13, 2016)

TPS launches program that helps civilians learn about policing (sharenews.com, October 26, 2016)

Public Goes to Police College (tpsnews.ca, October 25, 2016)