BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Police Department (BPD) is inviting city residents to register for its free 2025 Residents Police Academy, offering an in-depth look into various aspects of modern policing. The course aims to foster greater understanding and transparency between the department and the community.
The academy will meet every Tuesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 16 and concluding on Nov. 4. Participants will engage directly with BPD members, exploring a different specialty or area of law enforcement each week. Topics will include crisis negotiations, police social work, critical incident response, emergency vehicle operations, firearms training, defensive tactics, dispatch telecommunications, criminal and narcotics investigations, and the role of police K9 units.
The program is open to all Bloomington residents 18 years of age or older. Interested individuals can register by completing an application form available online via a provided Google Forms link, or by printing, completing, and submitting a downloadable form directly to the Bloomington Police Department at 220 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47401.
Space for the academy is limited, and prospective participants are encouraged to apply soon. The application deadline is Sept. 5, 2025. For any questions regarding the program, residents may contact Sarah Shahnavaz at 812-322-4340 or via email at sarah.shahnavaz@bloomington.in.gov.
