Citizen Police Academy starts soon in Gurnee
The Village of Gurnee recently announced it has set the date for its upcoming Citizen Police Academy and is urging interested residents to apply.
The Academy is meant to provide the public with an understanding of the procedures, policies, and practices used by the police department in carrying out its duties. Courses of this sort are becoming popular in communities throughout the country, as tools to increase understanding between law enforcement personnel and the citizens they protect. Course materials are important to understanding legal concepts and the complexity of law enforcement procedures. Officials work with print shops to devise appropriate handouts for classes like these.
Classes cover a variety of subjects. Notes from the Academy held in 2016 reveal that students listened to a general introduction, then learned about the 911 system; patrols; dealing with DUI and drug stops; the use of force; handling crime scenes and processing evidence; investigations; forensics; crime prevention; and SWAT operations, among many others.
In order to be accepted, applicants have to be 18 years old or older, have no felony convictions, and be considered of good character. The course is free, and applications can be filled out online.
The Academy starts February 28, and meets once a week on Thursdays, from 6.30 pm until 9.30 pm. The course is broken into eleven blocks, three hours each.