What happens after you graduate the CPA?  

Certainly you come away with a better understanding than many of the citizens in the community of what's involved with law enforcement. However, you also qualify to become part of the Van Buren Police Department's Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA).

This is a group of graduates that have formed an association to support the various community service activities of the Department.  Examples include: child seat check up events; Shop-With-A-Cop; Operation ID- fingerprinting and photographing of children; CERT training and disaster drill volunteers; and participate as “role players” in Department training exercises.

Alumni also assist with the preparation of meals for the CPA classes, receive opportunities for additional training, participate in the annual Department awards banquet, and continue the relationship with the Department's officers through the ride-along program.

Some Alumni are helpful because they speak a second language, or assist with unusual clerical needs (typing, envelope stuffing), or staff emergency team positions (handling phones, errands) and Information booths (fairs, Old Timer's Days).