The City of Cape Girardeau offers two citizen academies this April-May 2026. The general Citizen Academy will visit each of the city’s major departments once a week over two months. Another program focuses solely on the Police Department for a deep dive into their operations.
All-City Citizen Academy – Tuesdays 5:30 p.m.
Learn more about how city government works in your city! Meet the people and see the places involved in infrastructure, safety, and quality of life services in Cape Girardeau.
APPLY NOW
Citizen Academy sessions take place twice yearly, typically starting in March and September and requiring an approximate two-hour time commitment each week for 8-10 weeks.
Spring 2026- Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. (up to two hours)
April 14 thru Graduation with Council June 1 at 5 p.m.
- April 14 – City Hall
- April 21 – Public Works Department
- April 28 – Parks & Recreation at the SportsPlex
- May 5 – Police Department
- May 12 – Fire Department at Fire Station 4
- May 19 – Fly CGI Regional Airport
- May 26 – City Hall
- Graduation at Council Meeting – Monday, June 1 at 5 p.m.
Citizens Police Academy – Thursdays 6 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what law enforcement really does behind the scenes? The Cape Girardeau Police Department Citizens Police Academy gives you an inside look at daily police operations while building trust, understanding, and strong community relationships.
Participants will learn about:
• Patrol operations
• Criminal investigations
• Traffic enforcement
• Use of force
• K9 operations
• Communications
• And much more
Classes start in April and run through May and meet every Thursday evening from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
The citizens police academy is open to anyone 18+ who lives or works in Cape Girardeau, is free to attend and space is limited.
If you’re interested in learning more about your police department and engaging directly with our officers, we encourage you to apply!
Applications are available at the front desk of the Police Department or by emailing Rnewton@cityofcape.org