The Police Academy is located at:

Waterbury Police Department Annex
Training Division
240 Bank Street
Waterbury, CT 06702

Phone: (203) 573-5001 

Captain Francis Dabbo, Commanding Officer

The Training Division of the Waterbury Police Department conducts all training functions for the staff, both sworn and civilian, of the department, in addition to assisting area departments with their training needs. In January 2005 the Waterbury Police Department's Recruit Training Facility was opened. This academy will serve as the training facility for new recruits for the city and other cities throughout the state.


The division consists of the Training Director, Captain Francis Dabbo, Recruit Training Lt. Sherman McGrew and Training Officer John Gigliotti. The division additionally is able to call upon an adjunct staff of part time instructors, who hold various ranks throughout the department and are Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council certified instructors. Another resource available to the Training Division are POST certified instructors from departments who are members of the Western Area Regional Chiefs of Police (WARCOP) Association and the Northwest Connecticut Regional Training Program, along with various civilian organizations, as well as the Connecticut State Police (CSP), the State of Connecticut Division of Parole, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Secret Service to name a few.


The division acts as a liaison between the Connecticut Police Academy, the Bridgeport Police Academy and the City of Waterbury Civil Service Office. In conjunction with the Civil Service Office, the Training Division coordinates and monitors the selection process for prospective employees of the department. The division is responsible for the direct supervision of probationary officers through the Academy training and the Field Training Evaluation Program (FTEP) ultimately leading to certification as a Police Officer with the State of Connecticut. Upon completion of and certification as police officers, department members are required to maintain various certifications in areas such as Medical Response Technicians (MRT), NCIC/COLLECT operators, Intoxilyzer operators, radar, bicycle and motorcycle officers, Emergency Response Team (ERT) and K-9 unit officers. These certifications require constant classroom attendance by the department members to maintain and update their knowledge and skills. Additionally in order to maintain one’s certification as a Police Officer, officers are required to attend a minimum of sixty (60) hours of re-certification training every three (3) years.


The division also maintains a Firearms Training Range within the city limits. The range allows for live firearms training in all weapons used by the officers of the Waterbury Police Department. The range consists of 25- yard, 50- yard and 100- yard range courses as well as a 25- yard combat course, allowing for both a wide variety of training variations and skill development. The range is also so equipped to allow officers to conduct their firearms training 24 hours a day allowing officers to train in the lighting conditions in which they work.


Through the WARCOP and Northwest Connecticut Regional Training Program, the division coordinates, monitors, schedules and operates training programs for the department within this region. Additionally training resources are available to the Waterbury Police Explorers Program, the Junior Citizens Police Academy, and to various organizations requesting same.