Citizens Academy

The Muscle Shoals Police Department Citizen’s Academy is designed to acquaint residents of Muscle Shoals with the goals, objectives, organizational structure, and general operating procedures of the agency and to promote good will, mutual understanding and community support.

Participation Criteria and Selection

All participants must live or work in the City of Muscle Shoals, be at least 18 years old, and have no prior felony convictions or misdemeanor arrest within the past 12 months prior to the academy.  You must agree to the established program rules, may participate in the program. Applicants who meet the criteria for participation will be notified of their course depending upon available course space. Applicants must agree to submit to a background check.

Course Activities and Scheduling

The Citizens Academy will meet each Tuesday night for 8 consecutive weeks from 6pm-9pm. The sessions are held one time a year each Spring. The sessions will be held at the Muscle Shoals Police Department.

Program topics include overviews of the following:

• Structure and Activities of the Agency
• Criminal Law
• Patrol Operations
• Criminal Investigations
• Special Operations
• Ride Along
• Use of Force
• F.A.T.S. (Fire Arms Training Systems)
• Courtroom Procedures
• Dispatch
• Corrections
• Graduation