Southaven Police Chief Kern and members of his command staff recognized graduates of the 2026 Citizens Police Academy during a ceremony yesterday, the Southaven Police Department said in a Facebook post.
The department said the participants spent the last 12 weeks learning about departmental operations and are now eligible to join the Southaven Police Department VIPS, a volunteer program the department called vital to its community outreach efforts.
Citizens police academies are community programs intended to give residents an overview of law enforcement roles, policies and procedures and to foster better understanding between police and the public. Departments use such programs to build trust, educate residents about policing and encourage civic engagement.
The Southaven Police Department thanked the new graduates for their service as ambassadors who support department activities. The post said information on the next academy will be released later this year. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
