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Police Training Center

Police Continuing Education Classes

About the Denver Police Continuing Education Program
The Continuing Education Program provides instruction to Denver police officers and staff, as well as other law enforcement personnel across the Rocky Mountain region.

How to Enroll
To search our course offerings or sign up for classes, you must be with a law enforcement agency and be authorized to access the police classes website at www.denvergov.org/policeclasses. For more information, contact (303) 370-1500.

Denver Police Academy

2155 North Akron Way
Denver, CO 80238-3087
(303) 370-1500

Due to budgeting issues there are currently no basic or lateral recruit classes scheduled for the current year.

The Denver Police Academy is certified to provide basic training through Colorado State P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training - Certificate # 009). The academy can accommodate classes of up to 50 recruits. Recruit training is the mainstay of the Denver Police Academy, with classes generally conducted throughout the year. 

The Denver Civil Service Commission and police administration determine class size and scheduling.  Before placement on an eligibility list, applicants must first complete a comprehensive selection process, including numerous tests, interviews, and a thorough background investigation through the Civil Service Commission. For more information, call (720) 913-3370.

Recruits are are exposed to approximately 27-weeks of intensive training on a variety of subjects, including but not limited to:

  • Federal, state and municipal law 
  • Search and seizure
  • Arrest control
  • Firearms
  • Physical fitness
  • Emergency driving
  • Report writing
  • Patrol tactics and community interaction 

Instructors from the Denver Police Department, the Denver District Attorney's Office, the Denver City Attorney’s Office, as well as a number of other city and private agencies provide recruit officers with professional and quality instruction.  Upon graduation each recruit officer is a qualified practitioner in basic police firearms, police vehicle operation, and The Denver Police Department’s arrest control system.

Police recruits underdgo a series of weekly examinations and participate in a vigorous physical conditioning program. They also participate in a battery of field problems, testing their ability to function under stress and to reason through a challenging issue. These are often hands-on encounters requiring recruits to interview scenario volunteers and write reports, search and take subjects into custody, operate emergency equipment, and engage in building searches and shoot/don’t shoot situations.

Recruit training is a very challenging and demanding process with over 1,000 hours of instruction.  Recruit officers must then pass the Colorado State P.O.S.T. examination to be certified as a peace officer in the State of Colorado.  Upon graduation from the academy recruit officers are assigned to the Patrol Division where they undergo field training and evaluation.  Field training lasts three and one-half months, and builds on the foundation provided by the academy to prepare recruit officers for a solo field assignment.

The academy also conducts training for lateral recruit officers (persons with qualified prior law enforcement experience).  Requirements for this program are available from the The Denver Civil Service Commission, or by calling (720) 913-3370. Lateral recruits attend an abbreviated academy lasting approximately eleven weeks.  They are held to the same standards as basic recruits and receive much of the same training.  Upon graduation from the academy, lateral officers are assigned to the Patrol Division and must also successfully complete field training & evaluation before serving in a solo field assignment.

The police academy conducts training for reserve police officers.  Police reserves are volunteers with a strong interest in their community and the Denver Police Department.  They are not paid for their services and must successfully complete a series of tests and a thorough background investigation before they can enter the program.  The Reserve Police Academy is approximately five months in duration.  Classes are held at the Denver Police Academy during evenings and weekends.   Upon graduation from the academy, reserve police officers are assigned to the Patrol Division and must then successfully complete field training and evaluation.  Requirements for this program are available from the The Denver Civil Service Commission, or by calling (720) 913-3370. You must also contact the Denver Police Reserve Coordinator (720) 913-6022.

Other Programs & Opportunties

The Public Safety Cadet Program is a paid program designed to develop an educated, well-trained and diverse pool of police job candidates who are proven to have the potential to be exceptional public safety employees. 

Being part of the Denver Public Safety Cadet Program offers tremendous personal and professional advantages including:

To learn more about the program, requirements, benefits, and more visit our Cadet Program Recruiting page.
The Citizens' Police Academy (CPA) is an 11-week program (one night per week), conducted approximately four times a year with an average enrollment of 25 students. It is designed to familiarize Denver citizens with the policies and procedures of the police department and is a unique opportunity to learn about its officers.

Participants attend lectures and discussions on subjects ranging from officer safety to the Internal Affairs Bureau, demonstrations in arrest control techniques and defensive emergency vehicle operation (DEVOC). Officers from throughout the department assist with lectures and demonstrations.

Upon completion of this program, participants attend a graduation ceremony and are awarded a certificate with a miniature replica DPD badge. CPA graduates may elect to participate in the CPA Alumni Association and volunteer police assignments.

Download Citizen Academy Flyer

Download Citizen Academy Application Packet

Deadline for Application is April 20, 2012.

For more information on the upcoming April 2012 class, contact:

Technician Matt Merrion
Denver Police Academy
Phone: (303) 370-1527
Email: Matthew.Merrion@denvergov.org
The Denver Police Family Members' Academy  is open to immediate family members and significant others of current Denver police officers.  Classes are tailored to provide family members with information about the duties and responsibilities of police officers.
 
Because law enforcement is a unique profession with distinct challenges and rewards, the Denver Police Department seeks to provide family members with an opportunity to ask difficult questions, combined with instruction that explains the stresses and difficult decisions faced by law enforcement personnel. The Family Members' Academy gives participants an insider's view of the Denver Police Department.  

For more information, call (303) 370-1500.

The Traffic Operations Bureau provides professional training courses to law enforcement officers from throughout the metropolitan and Rocky Mountain Region on motorcycle traffic operations including:

  • Police Motorcycle Operation
  • Police Motorcycle Recertification
  • Motorcycle Safety Course (police only)
  • Motorcade Escorts 
  • Radar Operation And Recertification

Outside law enforcement agencies interested in DPD motorcycle courses should call (720) 337-1056.
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Becoming a Police Officer

The Denver Police Officer walk-in application / testing is now closed.

Contact Detective Sheri Duran
(720) 913-3395
sheri.duran@denvergov.org for more information.
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Student Explorer Program

The Denver Police Student Explorer Program is a for students ages 14 to 20 and provides law enforcement mentoring, training, and community service opportunities for youth. Qualifying explorers may also ride with Denver police officers on patrol.

For more information, Download our application, visit Safety Recruitment or contact:
Denver Police Explorer Program
1331 Cherokee
Denver, CO 80204
(720) 913-6875

  • Exploring is an advanced form of co-educational, career oriented scouting operated by a subsidiary company owned by the Boy Scouts of America
  • The goal of exploring allows young people (14 - 20 years old) the opportunity to "explore" a career, helping them make educated decisions about their future
  • The Denver Police Department operates the largest law enforcement explorer post in Colorado
  • Contact information for the Denver Area Council's Learning for Life office at www.denverexploring.org
  • New members are required to complete 10 all-day Saturday training sessions (Explorer Recruit Academy held every fall)
  • Graduates of the Recruit Academy meet on Wednesday evenings for advanced training
  • Explorers volunteer time to assist with community service events
  • Recruit Academy graduates who are at least 16 years of age are eligible for ride-alongs
  • On ride-alongs the explorer works a shift with an on-duty patrol officer, responding to radio calls and making citizen contacts
  • Annual conference involvement with the Law Enforcement Explorer Post Advisors Association of Colorado
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