Citizens’ Police Academy
To apply to participate in the next Nixa Citizen’s Police Academy class, select the “Student Application” tab to complete and submit our online form.
Upcoming Program Dates
We are currently collecting applications for the 2026 class. We will keep the applications of those who don’t make the class this year, and review them for the 2027 class.
The Nixa Citizens’ Police Academy is designed to increase understanding between adult citizens and the police through education. With a better understanding, it becomes easier for police and citizens to find realistic solutions to neighborhood problems.
Students who enroll in this free course will interact with various police staff while learning about their training, responsibilities, and work experiences. This program also provides the Nixa Police Department with an opportunity to answer citizen questions and learn how we can continually improve our service to the community.
Course Description
- 2026 Class Dates: August 6th thru October 15th.
- 11-week course
- Classes are held Thursday evenings from 6 pm-9:30 pm
- FREE
- Dinners included
Topics Discussed
- Traffic, DWI, and drug enforcement
- Domestic violence
- Officer safety and defensive tactics
- Use of force
- Investigations
- Evidence processing
- Court testimony
- Animal Control
- K-9 demonstration
- Nixa Emergency Tactical Team (NETT) demonstration
Students will learn through hands-on experiences including
- Mock traffic stops
- Mock domestic disturbance response
- Providing testimony in a mock trial
- Firearms training
- Tour of the Nixa Police Department
- Tour of the Christian County Court and Jail facilities
- Patrol ride-along
The Nixa Police Department has offered a Citizens’ Police Academy every year since 2011, with the exception of 2020, due to the COVID pandemic. The graduates of each year’s class are eligible to join the Nixa Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association (NCPAAA). This group meets on a monthly basis to support our police department.
Check out the class photos for previous Academy Classes
The Nixa Police Department receives more student applications each year than we have the capacity in the class. The current maximum capacity for a class is 20 students. By requiring applications, the department is able to prioritize applicants on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority given to Nixa residents and business owners. People who applied the previous year but were not accepted are also considered. All applicants are subject to a criminal record and background check.