This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Police Academy, is an academic institution in Türkiye that provides education for the police profession and specializes in security fields. Established in 1937 to train personnel for various ranks within the public organization to ensure the security of the Republic of Türkiye, the Police Academy carries out the education, Security and development activities of the police organization. The Academy provides not only basic police training to candidates but also various professional education programs and academic research opportunities.
The Police Academy addresses security issues within country. It conducts education and research on international security matters. In this context, its responsibilities include ensuring the professional development of the police and contributing scientifically to the formulation of security strategies like.
Police Academy Graduation Ceremony (AA)
The Turkish police education system has a deep-rooted history extending from the Ottoman Empire period to the Republic era. The formation of police organizations in the modern sense took place under the umbrella of the Zaptiye Nezareti, established in 1879 during the reign of II. Abdülhamid. During this period, steps were taken to shape policing as a professional field and transform it into a specialized discipline requiring dedicated training important.
The Polis Dersanesi, opened in Istanbul in 1891, is recognized as the first institutional example of professional police education in Türkiye. In this educational institution, legal and professional knowledge was delivered, and curriculum content was compiled into books and distributed to students.
In the early 20th century, particularly to restore public order in Rumelia, the Rumeli Vilâyât-ı Şahanesi Polis Mektebi, opened in 1907 in Thessaloniki with the contribution of foreign experts, played a significant role in popularizing the modern police school concept. In Istanbul, following the establishment of the Emniyet-i Umumiye Müdürlüğü in 1909, the Dersaadet Polis Mektebi was opened, providing education to police candidates from various provinces of Türkiye with a broad curriculum together.
After the proclamation of the Republic, police schools were opened in Konya, Sivas and Trabzon between 1923 and 1926, but due to economic difficulties and lack of instructors, these schools were closed. After 1931, police education was once again centralized in Istanbul. In response to increasing demands and reform efforts, an initiative for police education reform was launched by then Minister of Interior Şükrü Kaya and General Director of Security Şükrü Sökmensüer.
The most important step in these reforms was the opening of the Polis Enstitüsü in Ankara on 6 November 1937. The Institute was organized as a dual-structure institution conducting both professional training and research in forensic sciences, and it became a central authority overseeing the Police College and Police Schools. This building laid the foundation for today’s Police Academy system. The Police College was established by law in 1938, and from 1939 onward, efforts were made to expand education across the country through various police training courses. These processes contributed to the institutional development of the Turkish police education system and helped build a modern, academically grounded, professionally competent structure.
The institution, which adopted the name "Police Academy" in 1984, gained the status of an independent higher education institution regulated by a separate law and offering professional education. Starting in 2001, it began offering education at pre-bachelor’s, bachelor’s and postgraduate levels. In 2015, legal reforms restructured the Police Academy to better align with contemporary needs and educational models of advanced democratic countries, enhancing its academic and technical capacity. Within this framework, the Police Commander Training Center (PAEM) was established to train police commanders, while police officer training continues through Police Vocational Schools (PMYO) and Police Professional Training Centers (POMEM). Simultaneously, in-service training activities for personnel serving in the General Directorate of Security and its provincial organizations were brought under the authority and responsibility scope of the Police Academy.
The Police Academy is an institution subordinate to the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye. The Academy is managed by the President of the Police Academy, who serves as the highest-ranking official at the presidential level. The President coordinates all administrative and academic activities of the Academy and plays a central role in determining and implementing the Academy’s strategic goals strategic.
Within the Academy, various faculties, institutes and departments operate. These units function as academic structures delivering education and conducting research in their respective fields. In addition to the Presidency of the Police Academy, other units support the administrative functioning of the institution. Departments responsible for organizing education and instruction activities, units supporting students’ social and cultural development, and research and development units are among these structures. The Police Academy not only provides students with academic information but also adopts an interdisciplinary educational approach that encompasses expertise in diverse areas of security and public administration. At all levels, the Academy adheres to an educational philosophy grounded in the fundamental values and ethical principles of the police profession.
A Visual from the Police Academy Presidency's In-Service Training (PA)
The Police Academy offers a variety of educational programs to train and professionally develop the police force in Türkiye. The Academy provides a wide range of education, from basic training for candidates entering the police profession to specialized programs for senior police commanders and experts. Educational programs aim to impart professional knowledge and skills across all areas required by the police profession, both theoretically and practically.
The Faculty of Internal Security, operating as part of the Police Academy, aims to educate students to become future security managers and leaders. The faculty offers programs focused on security management, internal security policies, counter-terrorism and crime prevention, crime memorial and post-crime strategies on.
The Police Commander Training Center (PAEM) is a key institution providing training for students preparing for police command roles. PAEM offers specialized programs designed to enhance leadership and management skills among police commanders. Candidates receive in-depth training in strategic decision-making, crisis management, team management and security policies.
The Police Professional Training Centers (POMEM) provide practical training to enhance the professional knowledge of police candidates. The POMEM program ensures that candidates are trained according to the requirements of the police profession and provides hands-on experience in areas such as security, law and society relations.
Training locations: A. Gaffar Okkan POMEM, Afyon POMEM, Aksaray POMEM, Akyurt POMEM, Arnavutköy POMEM, Balıkesir POMEM, Bayburt POMEM, Bilecik POMEM, Bitlis POMEM, Bursa POMEM, Elazığ POMEM, Erzincan POMEM, Erzurum POMEM, Gaziantep POMEM, Hatay POMEM, Karabük POMEM, Karaman POMEM, Kayseri POMEM, Kemal Serhadlı POMEM, KEPEM, Konya Ereğli POMEM, Malatya POMEM, Mersin POMEM, Merzifon POMEM, Niğde POMEM, Rize POMEM, Trabzon POMEM, Yozgat POMEM.
Police Vocational Schools are higher education institutions providing professional education for the police profession. These schools offer both theoretical and practical knowledge in policing and equip students with competence in this field. PMYO trains police candidates in areas such as security strategies, crime-solving techniques and effective community communication.
Training locations: 19 May PMYO, A. S. Mermerci PMYO, Rüştü Ünsal PMYO, Kastamonu PMYO, Sivas PMYO, Kırıkkale PMYO, Kırşehir PMYO, Aydın PMYO.
The Institute of Security Sciences is an educational and research institution specializing in security management and strategies. This institute aims to contribute to scientific research in the field of security and strengthen the training of security experts through applied knowledge and skills.
The Institute of Forensic Sciences conducts education and research on the application of scientific methods in crime investigation. The institute aims to train specialized personnel in forensic medicine, criminology, biotechnology and other forensic science fields.
The Institute of Traffic is an educational unit concerned with traffic safety, traffic management and other scientific research related to traffic. This institute conducts research and offers educational programs aimed at developing solutions to traffic-related problems and enhancing traffic safety solution.
This department within the Police Academy aims to enhance students’ foreign language and Turkish language skills. Guided by the understanding that language proficiency is essential for the police profession, the department equips students with language competencies and supports their ability to work effectively on the international stage active.
Women Police Special Operations Graduation Ceremony (AA)
The academic structure of the Police Academy has been shaped on an interdisciplinary educational approach aimed at providing the security organization in Türkiye with qualified human resources. The Academy does not focus solely on practical security training but also embraces a teaching approach based on scientific thinking, research-oriented and multidimensional. Accordingly, the academic structure consists of faculties, vocational schools, institutes and centers offering education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The foundation of the academic structure is the Faculty of Internal Security. In this faculty, students receive theoretical and practical courses in public administration, law, criminology, psychology, sociology, crime and criminality prevention strategies, and security policies. The faculty’s goal is to produce police commanders capable of developing evidence-based approaches to contemporary security threats, who have internalized ethical values and can think critically analytic.
The postgraduate institutes within the Academy conduct specialized research and educational activities in areas such as security sciences and forensic sciences. These institutes support the professional development of personnel serving in the security organization and contribute to scientific production in the field of public security. Academic cadre is composed of expert academics and security organization members with years of field experience long. This structure plays a complementary role in providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practice-based experience. Furthermore, teaching staff at the Police Academy actively participate in national and international academic events and contribute to knowledge production through academic publications and projects.
The academic structure of the Police Academy is developed with due regard to international norms and academic quality standards. The Academy has adopted a structure compatible with the Bologna Process and operates in accordance with higher education standards regarding credit systems, quality assurance, student mobility and diploma recognition.
The Police Academy closely monitors global developments in the field of security and promotes international exchange of information and experience. In this context, the Academy’s international cooperation initiatives aim to strengthen inter-institutional relations and equip security personnel with a global security vision.
The Academy has signed bilateral cooperation protocols with police academies and security institutions in Europe, Asia, and many countries in Africa and the Americas. Within these cooperation frameworks, reciprocal academic visits, common training programs, seminars, workshops and international conferences are organized, and student and academic change programs are implemented. The Academy also plays an active role in international police education platforms such as INTERPA and contributes to information sharing through such multilateral structures. International activities are coordinated by the Directorate of International Relations within the Presidency of the Police Academy. This unit is responsible for facilitating inter-institutional communication, monitoring the implementation of agreements and managing international projects. Additionally, training programs are organized for police candidates and security personnel from various countries, thereby contributing to Türkiye’s security education.
The Academy also participates in initiatives aimed at enhancing global security capacity through European Union projects, United Nations-supported programs and bilateral technical cooperation. In particular, joint education and research activities addressing global security threats such as international counter-terrorism, migration, border security, cybercrime and human trafficking are prominent. These multifaceted collaborations enhance the international visibility and influence of the Police Academy and contribute to strengthening the Turkish security organization with personnel trained according to international standards world.
Graduates of educational institutions within the Police Academy are employed in various ranks and positions within the General Directorate of Security of the Republic of Türkiye. Graduation depends not only on academic achievement but also on physical fitness, discipline, adherence to ethical values and successful completion of security investigations. Graduates are assigned to different units of the security organization equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Graduates of the Faculty of Internal Security begin their duties with the rank of assistant commissioner upon obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Graduates of Police Vocational Schools (PMYO) receive the title of police officer with an associate degree. Graduates of the Police Commander Training Center (PAEM) are directly employed in administrative positions after completing a specialized program combining postgraduate education and assistant commissioner training. Police Professional Training Centers (POMEM) offer an accelerated education program for civilian bachelor’s degree holders, enabling them to be employed as police officers.
Graduates from institutes within the Academy serve in specialized positions within the security organization or continue academic careers. Particularly those graduating from the Institutes of Forensic Sciences, Security Sciences and Traffic Sciences assume roles in criminal laboratories, strategic planning units, intelligence, traffic safety and academic research centers.
The employment of Police Academy graduates plays a critical role in implementing Türkiye’s internal security policies. Graduates serve not only throughout the country but also in diplomatic missions abroad. Some graduates serve in international organizations such as the United Nations, INTERPOL or the European Union, contributing to global security.
The Police Academy is a higher education institution subordinate to the General Directorate of Security of the Republic of Türkiye. It operates under the legal framework provided by Law No. 3201 on the Organization of Security and Law No. 4652 on Police Higher Education. The Academy is also recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and holds the authority to conduct undergraduate and postgraduate education and training execution.
The Academy’s status combines the characteristics of a practical training institution for law enforcement personnel and an academic higher education institution conducting scientific research. This dual structure enables it to train qualified human resources for the security organization while supporting scientific production in the field of security.
Administratively, the Presidency of the Police Academy is subordinate to the General Director of Security and operates within the Ministry of Interior. The President of the Academy is appointed by a Presidential Decree and performs duties at the rector level. The Academy’s activities are conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior. Additionally, regulations concerning the Academy’s curriculum, personnel, budget and organizational structure are determined by the Police Higher Education Council.
In addition to national legislation, the activities of the Police Academy are also shaped in accordance with international security standards, cooperation agreements with the European Police Academy (CEPOL) and the European Convention on Human Rights. In this regard, the Academy bears a dual responsibility within both domestic and international legal frameworks.
History
Administrative Structure
Education
Faculty of Internal Security
Police Commander Training Center (PAEM)
Police Professional Training Centers (POMEM)
Police Vocational Schools (PMYO)
Institute of Security Sciences
Institute of Forensic Sciences
Institute of Traffic
Department of Foreign Languages and Turkish Language Instruction
Academic Structure
International Cooperation
Graduation and Employment
Legal Status and Affiliation