The Alexandria Fire Department will offer a spring 2023 Community Fire Academy. This program is offered free of charge and is open to City residents ages 18 and over, those who work in the City, and owners of businesses located in the City. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 3.
The Community Fire Academy educates community members about fire safety and emergency medical response, as well as the history, administration, operations and apparatus of an urban public safety agency. The goal of the Academy is to build partnerships within the community by helping participants understand how the fire department works, and to encourage volunteering within the community.
Through hands-on demonstrations, participants will have an opportunity to experience a “day in the life” as a firefighter/paramedic. They will learn skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how to stretch a hose line, ladder operations and how an engine and truck operate. Other topics throughout the 8-week program include EMS, Finance, Fire Investigations, Special Operations, Emergency Management and Human Resources.
The Academy will take place every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The spring 2023 session will begin on March 16 and end with a graduation ceremony for participants on May 4. Visit alexandriava.gov/Academies to learn more about the Community Fire Academy and to apply.
The Alexandria Police Department is also offering its 48th Session of the Community Police Academy.
The Alexandria Community Police Academy provides an opportunity for Alexandria residents and visitors to learn various aspects of policing. This includes administrative philosophies, internal policies, and the guiding principles of law and ethical conduct governing the delivery of police services. Sessions are a combination of lectures and interactive activities. Class topics include patrol operations, gangs, crime prevention, crime scene investigations, criminal investigations, and more.
The academy will be held every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at APD’s Headquarters, 3600 Wheeler Avenue in APD’s Community Room. Classes begin on March 8, 2023, and will end with a graduation ceremony on May 10, 2023.
The program is offered free of charge, however as a condition of participating, each participant is asked to volunteer for a minimum of 10 hours per year post-graduation. This would involve events such as assisting with parades, road races, National Night Out, etc.
The class is limited to twenty-five participants. Due to the popularity of the class, we also ask participants to commit to attending all 9 sessions. Participants of the Community Police Academy must be at least 21 years of age and live or work in the City of Alexandria. In addition, Criminal History checks will be conducted on all applicants for final approval of acceptance.
For more information on the Community Police Academy or to apply, visit www.alexandriava.gov/police and search Community Police Academy or e-mail the Volunteer Office at mary.bruno@alexandriava.gov. The deadline for registrations is Feb. 17, 2023.
To see other academies are offered by the city visit
https://www.alexandriava.gov/Academies