FOLEY, Ala. — The Foley Police Department is offering community members a behind-the-scenes look at how law enforcement operates, and registration is now open for its Citizens Police Academy.
The free program educates residents about daily police operations across an eight-week course. Spaces are limited, and the department encourages interested residents to sign up soon.
Schedule
Classes begin Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, and meet every Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The program runs for eight consecutive weeks.
Participants will learn directly from Foley community officers, with all instruction delivered by Foley Police Department personnel rather than outside trainers.
Eligibility
Applicants must be at least 19 years old and pass a criminal background check.
The program is open exclusively to individuals who have not previously attended the Citizens Police Academy. Those who completed the program in a prior year are not eligible to apply again.
Restricting enrollment to first-time participants is how a program with limited seats keeps reaching new residents rather than the same group of engaged citizens year after year.
What the Curriculum Covers
The curriculum spans a broad range of law enforcement topics. Participants can expect sessions on patrol procedures, active shooter training, corrections, courtroom procedures and narcotics.
The lineup also includes K-9 demonstrations, DUI detection, crime scene investigations and SWAT operations.
That breadth is intentional. Patrol procedures and courtroom process explain the ordinary work that occupies most of an officer’s time, while the specialized units — K-9, SWAT, crime scene — are the ones residents are most curious about and least likely to encounter directly.
Why Departments Run These Programs
The Citizens Police Academy offers residents a look at what officers encounter on the job, considerably different from what is typically portrayed on television. The program is designed to build understanding and strengthen the relationship between the department and the community it serves.
The practical value tends to run both directions. Participants come away with a clearer sense of why officers do things the way they do — the reasoning behind a traffic stop approach, the legal constraints on a search, the decision points in a use-of-force scenario. Departments, meanwhile, gain a group of residents who can explain police procedure to their neighbors with firsthand knowledge.
Sessions like DUI detection and crime scene investigation also serve a straightforward educational purpose. Understanding how impairment is assessed, or how physical evidence is preserved, gives residents information they can act on well beyond the classroom.
How to Register
Interested residents can register by scanning the QR code on the official program flyer, or by using the registration form provided by the Foley Police Department.
Because seating is limited, the department advises applicants to submit their information as early as possible to secure a spot in the fall session.
Applicants should allow time for the background check to be completed before classes begin Oct. 5.