In the spring of 1994, Lieutenant Mark Smith and Sergeant Gene Grubbs traveled to Orlando, Florida to learn about a relatively new police/citizen educational program known as the Citizen Police Academy. Upon returning, they gave an in depth report to Police Chief Johnny Rosson, and from that point on the Clarksville Police Department began to move toward establishing its own Citizen Police Academy.

After much hard work on everyone's part, the program became a reality in the fall of 1994. The Citizen Police Academy was then and still is designed to bring Clarksville's citizens and the police department closer together through education. For thirteen weeks class participants are exposed to what it would be like to be a police officer in the City of Clarksville. Training is concertrated into three-hour blocks of time for the thirteen week course. Everything from hiring to survival training is taught to the class members. In addition to the regular curriculum, optional class participation projects include: a ride along with a police officer on shift, firearm training at the department's range and defensive driving tactics taught on an enclosed area with the students in patrol cars.

The Citizen Police Academy Alumni was formed in early 1995, when the CPA graduates decided to continue their support of the police department and its officers. Members of the Alumni Association work closely with the department on various projects designed to help the department better serve the community. The CPA Alumni has purchased equipment needed by the department, sponsored picnics to show appreciation to the officers and their families, provided man power at special event projects and has helped the department in numerous ways throughout the years. By the end of 2003, over 685 citizens had successfully completed the Citizen Police Academy course and most graduates continue their active participation and support of the police department through the alumni association.