Please note: The 2024 program begins Oct. 10 and applications are now being accepted through Sept. 19, 2024, or until the class is at capacity. See below for application instructions. 

About the Academy

The Citizens Academy is geared toward expanding public knowledge of the Plymouth Police and Fire Departments and is free for participants. The academy helps strengthen the partnership between public safety professionals and the community by sharing information and promoting a better understanding of public safety services. This program is hosted annually, beginning in fall, with registration opening in the summer. Each week, a different aspect of the Public Safety Department is featured through lectures and hands-on demonstrations.

Class schedule

• Participants will attend twelve weekly sessions
• Sessions are held 6-9 p.m. on Thursdays (excluding holidays)
• Sessions:
  • Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21,
    Dec 5, Dec 12, Dec 19, Jan 2, Jan 9, Jan 14 (Tuesday)

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have a connection to Plymouth by meeting a requirement to live, worship, work, volunteer, participate in a community group, or own a business in the city. All participants must pass a background check. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant. Participants who have already participated in the program in a previous year will be waitlisted until new registrants are first considered due to limited class size.

How to Apply

Please fill out the Public Safety Citizens Academy Application before September 19, 2024. 

If you are unable to access the application online, paper applications are available at the Police Department (3400 Plymouth Blvd.) reception desk during business hours – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

If you are unable to complete an online application or pickup an application in person and are in need of special accommodations, please email publicsafetycommunityengagement@plymouthmn.gov or call 763-509-5160.

Help keep fire hydrants clear of snow and ice so firefighters and fire equipment can gain quick access in the event of an emergency. This volunteer position is available through the Plymouth Fire Department.

Time Commitment:

• As needed during snowy winter months.

Activities/Duties:

• Remove significant snow and ice in a 3-foot radius around the fire hydrant within 24 hours of occurrence of a snow event.
• Register your hydrant with the Adopt a Spot program so your hydrant and volunteer commitment can be recorded.
• Report any damage or repairs needed to at plymouthmn.gov/myPlymouth or by using the myPlymouth app, which is available from the Google Play and Apple App stores.

Qualifications:

• Desire to support the Plymouth Fire Department and emergency response personnel.
• Willing to follow through on a commitment.
• Dependable and responsible.

Note: This is an unsupervised position.

Download this information: Adopt a Fire Hydrant Volunteer Responsibilities (PDF)

Apply Online

To Adopt a Fire Hydrant, visit the map to find the location you wish to adopt. Note: You will need to remember the fire hydrant ID number for the form.

Adopt a Hydrant Video 

Fire Prevention

The most recent focus for youth fire prevention education has been offering an interactive opportunity for every second-grade class in Plymouth. The Fire Department welcomes the opportunity to speak with audiences about safety as well as fire and injury prevention.

Crime Prevention

The Police Department will consider educational requests for crime prevention. 

To submit a request for public safety education, visits, presentations, or materials, please visit our request page. The Public Safety Community Engagement Team will respond to requests as soon as possible in the order they are received. Information collected is used solely by Public Safety staff to follow up regarding requests.

Due to staffing levels, the Public Safety Department is unable to provide the following services:

• Car seat check-ups and installations (Contact North Memorial Health at 763-581-3743) 
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide battery/alarm replacement (Contact Senior Community Services at 952-767-7886)  
• Fire extinguisher training (Contact servicer or manufacturer)
• CPR training (See Heart Safe Program from the Plymouth Rotary Club)
• First aid training 
• Business fire escape planning
• Observation of fire drills
• Fire Department visits to neighborhood block parties
• Birthday party visits
• Residential and business premise surveys (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)
• Bike safety 
• Personal safety classes

The Plymouth Police Department is focusing on building community partnerships with multi-housing properties. This partnership with rental owners, managers and residents of multi-housing communities, apartments and townhouses focuses on relationship building, community engagement, and crime prevention initiatives.

Property Managers and Owners

Report Requests:

• To request a police report, please refer to the standardized process found here.

Training Required for Licensed Rental Properties: 

• Per City of Plymouth ordinance, 410.23: The owner or property manager of a rental dwelling must complete training [Crime Free Multi-Housing or a similar program] offered by the Police Department prior to the issuance of an initial rental license, or upon any change in property ownership. Refresher training is required every five years thereafter for individuals who own or manage five or more rental dwelling units in the city.
• Training offered by the Plymouth Police Department is only offered to properties operating within the City of Plymouth.
• If the required training offered by the Plymouth Police Department conflicts with attendee availability, Crime Free Multi-Housing Phase I training is an acceptable alternative; a valid CFMH Phase I certificate acquired by this alternative training is required to fulfill the ordinance conditions. If the certificate is lost, contact the agency where the class was taken for a replacement.
• To find an updated list of CFMH Phase I trainings in different cities, visit mncpa.net. To attend a CFMH class in another city, register directly with the host city.

NEXT TRAINING DATE is November 12, 2024. To register for training, please visit the registration page. 

For more information on rental licenses or to inquire about your actions required for license compliance, visit the Rental Dwelling Licenses webpage.

2024 Night to Unite set for 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6

What started as an event focused on crime prevention has evolved into a popular night for community bonding. Plymouth participates in the statewide Night to Unite campaign, which is typically held the first Tuesday in August.

 For more information visit the Night to Unite page! 

The Safe Community Camera Program allows residents and businesses to voluntarily register external video cameras to assist police if a crime occurs in their neighborhood.

Through the program, police may reach out to registered camera owners in the event of a crime and request that the owners review their camera footage for any potential evidence. Any type or brand of camera can be registered.

The Plymouth Police Department does not have direct access to any registered cameras and does not use registered cameras for active surveillance.

Participation in the program is voluntary and those who have registered can withdraw at any time. 

Register security cameras here.

File of Life

The Plymouth Public Safety Department offers residents free File of Life packets – a potentially life-saving tool that provides critical medical information to first responders in the event of an emergency at home.

The File of Life is a red magnetic pocket that is kept on the refrigerator at home. It contains a medical information card that residents fill out with health history, medications, allergies, emergency contacts and insurance information. An identifying sticker is also included to place at the home’s entrance, which alerts first responders that File of Life information is available.

Plymouth residents can pick up a free File of Life packet at the Public Safety Building, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. The packet comes with a medical card to fill out, a red magnetic pouch and a sticker. New medical cards can be downloaded and printed from the link below.

File of Life card (PDF)

Smart911

Be prepared for any emergency by giving public safety the information they need to better help and communicate with you. For more information see the Smart911 website.

Medicine Disposal

Find drop box locations for Medicine Disposal in Hennepin County.

For small quantities of medication, the Plymouth Police Department provides drug deactivation bags residents can use at home to safely dispose of unwanted/unused medications in the trash. The bags contain activated carbon, which neutralizes the medication and prevents it from contaminating the groundwater.

Drug deactivation bags can be picked up in the lobby of the Plymouth Public Safety Building, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Residents can obtain two bags per visit, depending on availability.

Hours: The Plymouth Public Safety Department is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Instructions for Use
Step 1: Place medication in the bag.	Step 2: Fill halfway with warm tap water and wait 30 seconds.	Step 3: Seal and gently shake bag. Dispose of bag in the trash.

Two sizes of bags may be available, depending on current supplies.

• The larger bag allows for disposal of up to 90 pills, 12 ounces of liquid medication or 12 transdermal patches.
• The smaller bag allows for disposal of 45 pills, 6 ounces of liquid medication or six transdermal patches. 

The bags are available to residents, thanks to donations by the Armstrong-Cooper Youth Hockey Association, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the Plymouth Crime and Fire Prevention Fund.