Academy gives citizens inside look at police department

North Aurora police officer Robyn Stecklein wants to set the record straight about the North Aurora police.

"Police don't solve every crime in under an hour or two. Police don't get into wild car chases every week," Stecklein said in her C.O.P. Bytes e-mail newsletter last week. And "not every police officer eats doughnuts."

Every year or so she invites residents to join her and other officers in the department's Citizens Police Academy.

The last academy was held in fall 2006.

"The class starts out with a tour of the police station and with an orientation of hiring practices," she explained. "After the class, everyone has a better understanding of our procedures and we try to schedule all the class members for a four-hour ride in a squad car. We let them feel how it is to be a police officer."

Stecklein tries to be at all the classes but her fellow officers take over their specialties each week. The officers will cover topics on juvenile law, gang intervention, the Illinois Vehicle Code, DUI and use of force.

"The class learns about why they would get pulled over and why we prefer that their hands remain on the steering wheel," she said.

Stecklein said that the officers run a mock traffic stop for the class and the class gets to respond to a domestic scene and determine who is telling the truth and who is lying.

"We have a lot of fun in the class and everyone leaves with a better understanding of what we do," she said.

"We have had 20-year-olds join the class who are interested in becoming police officers and we've had retired residents join just so they can learn about our jobs," Stecklein said.

Class members will get to cover the use of force and work with the firearm training scenario machine.

"It's like a video game and it helps to teach the right time to shoot," she said.

Class members will also get to wear DUI fatal vision goggles and drive a golf cart to get the sensation of driving while impaired.

"We've had a great response from everyone in our past classes." Stecklein said.

"I had a nice e-mail from a prior participant who wants to tell others in her subdivision about the class."

North Aurora residents who are at least 18 years old will get first preference for the nine-week academy classes. Space is limited in the class, so register as soon as possible.

Applications are available at the North Aurora Police Department, 25 E. State St., or can be downloaded from the NAPD page on the village Web site www.vil.north-aurora.il.us.

Classes begin Feb. 19 and run for nine consecutive Tuesdays (except for March 29) from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Most classes will be held at the village hall.

Call Stecklein at the police department at (630) 897-8705 with any questions about the academy.

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Congratulations to Christopher Obrochta of 220 Larchwood Lane for winning the 2007 North Aurora Lions Club Decoration Contest. He did a fantastic job of getting lights on the roof of his ranch house. Patrick and Lisa Falcone of 2712 McDuffee Circle were voted second place for their computer programmed light and music display. And the 2006 winner Chris Prah placed third with his well-lit home at 217 Wildwood Drive.

mckozik@comcast.net

If you go

What: North Aurora Police Department's Citizens Police Academy

When: Begins Feb. 19, runs for nine Tuesdays

Info: Visit www.vil.north-aurora.il.us