Citizens Police Academy
The role of the Police has always been an interest to the average citizen. The television media has capitalized upon this curiosity with shows such as Live PD, Cops, America's Most Wanted, and Stories of the Highway Patrol. Each week, real police action is broadcast into the living rooms of millions of Americans. Numerous police agencies have also benefited from the curiosity that citizens have about the police. These agencies have formed Citizen Police Academy (CPA) programs that create an expansion of their community based efforts.
These programs are intended to open the lines of communication between the community and the police department.
To the citizen, it may frequently appear that the police are not doing their job or are exceeding their boundaries. By allowing citizens a firsthand look at what rules, regulations and policies the police follow, some of the misunderstanding may be alleviated.
The objective of the Citizen Police Academy is not to train an individual to be a "Reserve Police Officer", but to produce informed citizens. The citizens and police officers meet each other face to face in a neutral, friendly setting and each becomes a person to the other. In the past, citizens have simply seen a uniform, now they have an understanding about that person behind the badge.
2024 CPA Class Information
Wednesdays, March 13 - May 15
6:30-9 pm
Village Board Room
The current session is closed to applications. Please check back later for information on the next session.
What is CPA?
The Citizen Police Academy is a twelve week program designed to give the participants more knowledge of the Huntley Police Department. It consists of a series of interactive classes held once a week, on a designated evening for twelve weeks in duration. There is one session per year, limited to twenty students. There is no cost to enroll. The classes provide an overview of the various areas of law enforcement. It is an educational and informative program that allows citizens the opportunity to learn about the issues that affect law enforcement efforts in the Village of Huntley.
Who Can Attend?
Individuals who apply for the Citizen Police Academy must be at least 18 years of age. They must also live in the Village of Huntley or work in the Village of Huntley. Applicants will be subject to a background check and will be informed in writing as to whether they have been accepted, denied or placed on a waiting list for a future class.
Why Attend?
Community oriented policing plays an important and vital role in reducing crime. Therefore, the Huntley Police Department instituted the Citizen Police Academy to improve communication and to obtain citizen input and support throughout the village. It is our hope that the graduates will become partners with the police in identifying problems and solutions to the crime issues that affect our community. Graduates will gain knowledge that they can implement to enhance the quality of life in their respective neighborhoods.
What is Taught?
Overview of patrol- Telecommunications (911)
- Traffic law
- Criminal law
- Use of force
- Evidence
- Juvenile
- Investigations
- Gang awareness
- Problem solving
- Crime prevention
Participants will gain a working knowledge of the duties and responsibilities required to be a law enforcement officer in your community.
Benefits
Graduates will be encouraged to join the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association. This will give graduates the opportunity for continued education in the field of law enforcement, and allow them to have an interactive association with the police department.
Goals
One of the goals of the Citizen Police Academy is to help the residents of Huntley to better understand how policing is conducted in their community. It is hoped that all graduates of the Citizen Police Academy will get to know more about the men and women who are protecting their community and learn how and why they make the decisions they do while performing their duty.
For further information contact Officer Keppler:
Email Officer Keppler
Phone: 847-515-5409