Community Academy

The Hayward Police Department hosts a community academy where our residents can participate in a series of classes to enhance their knowledge of our department.

Community Academy

What is the Community Academy?

The Hayward Police Department’s Community Academy is a certified educational program designed to give participants a working knowledge of the City of Hayward’s Police Department. It consists of a series of classes and discussions held once a week, on a designated evening for a period of two to three hours. Each academy consists of eight to twelve sessions. There is no cost to anyone who enrolls, and there may be an opportunity to apply for a half unit of college credit.

The Community Academy is an innovative approach toward residents’ involvement into the affairs of the community. Our primary focus is to assist our community members, in their problem solving efforts, through understanding of responsibility and partnership.

The program provides an in-depth view into various areas of law enforcement. It is an educational and informative program that allows residents the opportunity to learn about the issues that affect law enforcement efforts in the City of Hayward.

What are the Goals of the Community Academy?

  • To develop partnerships between members of the community and the Police Department.
  • To promote open lines of communication between members of the community and the Police Department.
  • To offer new insight on how the police do their job.
  • To assist in providing a realistic view and clear understanding of the Police Department.

Our intent, through education, is to build understanding, responsibility, accountability and partnership between members of the community, the police department and other service organizations.

One of the goals of the Community Academy is to help residents of Hayward to better understand how the police work in their community. It is hoped that all graduates of the Community Academy will get to know more about the men and women who protect their community and why they make the decisions they do while performing that duty.

The academy is also intended to encourage a more engaged community and bolster the city’s Neighborhood Alert program. Our aim is for Block Captains of Neighborhood Alert as well as participants in the Volunteers In Polices Services (VIPS) program to become involved with community partnerships and volunteer programs.

What are the benefits?

When residents take a more personal look in their community, and the protection of their community and neighborhoods, they will enjoy a safer and closer relationship with their neighbors.

Why should I attend?

Community Oriented Policing plays an important and vital role in reducing crime in any community. Therefore the Hayward Police Department instituted the Community Academy in 1993 to improve the communication and obtain community input and support throughout the city. It is our hope that the graduates will become partners with us in identifying problems and solutions to the crime issues that are affecting our community. Graduates will take their knowledge to their neighborhoods where they can use it to enhance the quality of neighborhood life.

The objective of this course is not to make the graduates police officers, but better informed residents with a greater general knowledge of our many functions. Our goal is to foster enhanced community relations from these graduates and the people they touch in everyday life.

Who can attend?

Anyone who is over 18 years old, a resident of Hayward or someone who works in the city may participate.

How much does it cost?

The academy is free and open to residents who live or work in Hayward.

What if I cannot make it to all of the classes?

Participants may miss two sessions and still received a graduation certificate. In order to get the full benefits of the experience, it is important to be present for all sessions. Topics May Include:

  • Community-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Philosophy
  • Hayward Neighborhood Alert
  • How to Effectively use Community Resources
  • Problem Solving
  • Community Preservation Services
  • SMASH / Beat Health
  • Police and Fire communications
  • Personal Safety
  • Narcotics and Drug Awareness
  • Identity Theft
  • Domestic Violence
  • Megan’s Law
  • Youth & Family Service Bureau
  • School Resource Officers
  • SWAT
  • K9 Unit

How do I apply?

Currently we are accepting online applications for the 4-week 2021 Virtual Community Academy, to be held in English, Wednesdays, February 2, 9, 16 & 23 , 2022.

REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE ENGLISH ACADEMY ENGLISH ACADEMY FLYER

If you are interested in attending please call to inquire when the next class is being offered.

Crime Prevention Specialist at 510.293.7151 or 510.293.1043

Or you can signup for email updates via nixle or our City of Hayward Public Safety  mail list. 

We also hold Community Academies in Spanish. If you are interested please contact Crime Prevention Specialist at 510.293.5051