The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) was invited to present on police oversight to Philadelphia Police Academy Class #399 on August 18, 2023. Since then, CPOC has received a standing invitation to present to all future academy classes. This unprecedented access to the police academy is an amazing opportunity for CPOC to impart the importance of oversight, transparency, and community police relations to future Philadelphia Police Officers. CPOC’s presentation provides information in the following areas:
- An overview of civilian police oversight, both locally and nationally.
- A timeline and history of police oversight in Philadelphia.
- How CPOC’s work can benefit the community and the Philadelphia Police Department.
- An interactive component where recruits talked openly about the reasons they chose a career in law enforcement and how they view the role that oversight plays in policing.
In addition to a standing invitation to present at all future police academy classes, CPOC worked with Police Academy leaders to develop and implement a survey for police recruits. This survey focuses on the content of academy classes and provides valuable feedback to instructors on areas for improvement and future instruction.
