The Chandler Police Department (CPD) began offering the Citizens Police Academy program to community members in September 1994 to help raise awareness of the role of law enforcement in the community. In September 2015, CPD invited recent alumni from this program to meet at the main station's Community Room. The group continued to meet for several months, often with additional presentations and updates provided by CPD. There was profound interest by participants to both continue receiving ongoing education about community programs and find a way to "give back" to CPD. Within a few months, a Steering Committee was formed by a handful of alumni to see what could be done to make this a more formal and independent organization.

In 2016 and early 2017, many meetings and discussions determined that the direction we wanted to pursue was to create a non-profit organization to assist and support the Chandler Police Department in their mission. 2017 was largely spent conducting research about such an organization and completing the administrative tasks to create a 501(c)(3) entity. The name Citizens Police Academy Association of Chandler (CPAAC) was decided upon. A corporation was formed, a business license was obtained, a federal tax ID was issued, bylaws were created, and non-profit applications were filed with state and federal offices. On November 2, 2017, five officers were elected to a Board of Directors by the membership to complete all requirements for becoming a non-profit organization.

Final approval and acceptance of all non-profit requirements was obtained effective November 24, 2017, allowing CPAAC to accept donations without tax consequences to the donor, and proceed with our mission of being advocates in support of the Chandler Police Department's Community Programs.

Since then, CPAAC has remained steadfast in providing our members ongoing education about community services and programs provided by or related to the Chandler Police Department, has advocated within the community for such programs, and has supported the Chandler Police Department in numerous events that benefit the community.