The Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) is accepting applications for the 2023 Community Academy, which runs May 10-June 14, meeting 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday.

The Santa Barbara Police Department Community Academy, which is free to attend, offers an opportunity for community members to learn more about the inner workings of SBPD.

Participants will be able to meet with both sworn and professional staff during the academy. They will engage in various law enforcement topics; discuss, ask questions and participate in a behind-the-scenes SBPD experience.

The academy is also a source for people interested in a career at SBPD or those who want to learn more about the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Community Academy experiences may include:
• Meeting the chief of police and command staff
• Station tour and interactive SBPD history briefing
• New police station update with current exterior and interior renderings
• Communications Center tour
• Traffic enforcement, equipment and collision investigations
• Driving under the influence investigations
• Community Action Team (e-bike patrol)
• Patrol operations
• Police K-9 demonstration
• Crime scene investigation and fingerprinting
• Detectives and investigations
• Professional standards and learning about the complaint investigation process
• Mental Health Response Team
• Volunteers in Policing (VIPs)
• Police officer training requirements (inside look into the Police Academy)
• Employee recruitment and wellness
• Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office
• Force options and de-escalation scenarios (virtual and role-playing)
• Opportunity to participate in police officer ride-alongs (optional)

For more information, visit the Santa Barbara Police webpage, click here, or contact Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale at eragsdale@sbpd.com or 805-897-2432.