Residents invited behind the scenes as Fort Walton Beach launches new police academy early February
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is getting ready to start its next Citizen’s Police Academy in early February, so anybody who want to learn more about how local law enforcement works will soon have a new opportunity.
The next session will start on Thursday, February 5, 2026, and last for eight weeks in a row. The program is meant to help police officers and the community understand each other better and work together more effectively. It gives participants a detailed look into the department’s daily tasks and specialized assignments.
Classes will be offered every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. until March 26. During the course, participants will look at a lot of different issues that are relevant to current policing. The training includes an introduction of police training, patrol operations, and community policing efforts, as well as more specific topics including crime scene investigations, DUI enforcement, traffic homicide investigations, and K-9 operations.
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Along with learning in a classroom, participants are invited to ride along with an officer on a typical shift. This experience lets people in the community see police work in action and get a better idea of the problems and choices that police officers have to make.
People who live or work in Okaloosa County can go to the Citizen’s Police Academy for free. To sign up, you must be at least 18 years old. There isn’t much space, so residents who are interested should apply as soon as possible to get a position.
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Master Police Officer Marcus Montgomery can be reached by email at [email protected] for more information or to get an application form. The department says that there aren’t many seats available and that participants should sign up early to make sure they can take part in the February session.
