The participants represented a convenience sample that consisted of police agencies believed or known to have started a CPA. The survey used both fixed-choice and open-ended questions. The surveys and follow-up mailings went to the police chief or sheriff. Responses came from 128 agencies, for a response rate of 86 percent. Results revealed that 108 of the participants reported having CPAs. Results also indicated that CPAs were generally not living up to their potential. Academy coordinators expressed goals, purposes, and benefits directed at building community and political support. However, few agencies actively tried to infuse community input into their priorities. Black people did not receive high priority in CPA recruitment and were not proportionately represented in the majority of CPAs. Instead, participant recruitment and selection appeared to be slanted toward community elites. Overall, findings questioned the current status of CPAs as an element of community policing, as opposed to public relations or political relations. Tables and 37 references (Author abstract modified)