The application process for acceptance into The Academy for Community-Centered Policing is stringent. Each year only a limited number of seats are available as all students revive a 100% scholarship. This is funded through donations and the academy cannot accept more students than it has funding for. Additionally, students CANNOT pay tuition to have a spot added. Simply put, you must be THE BEST OF THE BEST to get into this program. The process starts by filling out the simple form below to let us know you are interested. From there, the process becomes very difficult. Here are a few foundation entrance requirements:
- Must have a high school GPA of 3.2
- Must turn 18 PRIOR to the first day of class at ACCP
- Must not have ANY criminal record
- Must have a good driving record (does not need to be perfect, but you must be insurable on the police agencies vehicle policy)
- Must have a high school diploma or GED before your start date
- Must have a letter recommendation from your pastor
- Must have a letter of recommendation from you school principal
- Must be willing to submit to a background check
- Must be physically capable of completing all Georgia POST police academy entrance physical fitness requirements
- A written testimony of your walk with Christ to this point.
All applicants will be required to fly (or drive) into Atlanta, Georgia for an on-site interview as part of the application process. The on-site visit will normally consist of a full day of testing, however, it may require 2 days depending on the state the applicant is coming and the transfer-ability of their high school diploma (I.E. if they are home schooled and did not participate in any accredited curriculum, the State of Georgia will require additional testing that may take another day).
Prior to arrival on campus, the applicant will:
- Undergo a criminal and character background check
- Complete an in-depth application
- Submit all high school (and college if applicable) transcripts
- Participate in a ZOOM interview with the advisory board
Upon arrival on-site applicants will:
- Complete an obstacle course
- Complete an in-person Chief’s panel interview area police chiefs
- Complete required academy and college entrance paperwork
- Complete a psychological evaluation
- Complete a polygraph examination
- Participate in an on-site ministry event where the applicant will lead in a devotion
Things we think are important for you to know before you apply:
- THIS IS A HARD PROGRAM. It is not college, it is not a job, it is full immersion into college and career. You will work hard very day to become the best police candidate possible.
- You must sign a commitment for 3 years. As you become trained and experienced smaller agencies will want you to leave the program and work for them. You must commit to the FULL 3 YEARS. Why? Because we don’t want to set you up to just get “a” job, we want you to get the job of your dreams. This can only be done with a full completion of the program.
- You cannot date for year 1… You can only date via letter/text year 2…. You can only date on a limited basis year 3. WHY? You won’t have time, you are going to be working, volunteering, ministering, working out and then sleeping. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO DATE and you cannot afford the distraction… SORRY!
- During your first year you will go through the FULL police academy and will become a certified officer. That’s right, in Georgia an 18 year old CAN become a certified police officer… Through our partnership you will become certified your first year and a partner police chief will swear you in as a reserve officer.
- YOU CAN’T HAVE A JOB! What? WHY? The same reason you can’t have a girl friend. YOU WON’T HAVE TIME. all of your living expenses will be taken care of though ACCP and you will revive a small stipend for incidentals. In year 2 and 3 you will be permitted to work “part-time” jobs as needed for one of the partner police departments. This will allow you to make additional income, but must be done on a limited basis and must be pre-approved by the ACCP director.
- Finally, and to be clear, YOU WILL BE WORKING. Day and night, you will be learning patrol on a college campus, you will be learning foot patrol in a small city, you will be leaning vehicle patrol in a county you will be learning community engagement in a soup kitchen, you will be learning youth involvement in a Royal Rangers ministry, you will be learning dispatch inside of a call center… YOU WILL BE WORKING! All the time! So be ready, but when it is all over YOU WILL BE THE BEST THERE IS!