Every Cypress resident is an integral part of the community and The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) wants to help educate residents and increase public participation by creating an awareness of a variety of aspects of law enforcement. To do this Harris County invites area residents to join the Citizens Police Academy (CPA).

The Citizens Police Academy begins January 28 and meets weekly for 13 weeks, providing interactive courses through which participants learn about the Texas Penal code, Patrol Procedures, Gang Awareness, Terrorism and many other topics that law enforcement face each day. They will get an inside look at police procedures and protocols, receiving firsthand information on the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, how it runs and why deputies make the decisions they make each day on the job.

This course is free and open to residents of Harris County that are at least 21 years of age, but space is limited. Interested individuals can pick up an application at any Harris County Sheriff’s Office storefront or substation. If you’re interested please contact the HCSO’s Community Services Division at 713-759-9454.

With the awareness gained through this course graduates will be a critical resource for their community. The HCSO hopes that graduates will be able to communicate the knowledge and understanding they learned about HCSO procedures with other members of the community and be able to identify problems and solutions they see regarding crime in the county. This course will equip residents to be a support and point of contact in their neighborhoods, creating an even safer and more unified city and county.