A secret jewel in Arlington Heights

Well, it's not really a secret, but it is a jewel. It is the Arlington Heights Police Department and its amazing, well-organized Citizens Police Academy.

From the very first introductions by Chief Mourning, Officer Kostka and Officer Aiello we were impressed with the organizational structure that this experience was going to offer and it did not disappoint.

We toured the police facility in downtown Arlington Heights and covered subjects like the 911 Center, traffic law and DUI, enforcement procedures, forensics, crash investigation, gangs, juvenile law, a visit to the circuit court in Rolling Meadows, death investigations, financial crimes, victim services, crime prevention weapons use and safety and a K-9 demonstration.

The presentations, demonstrations, and visuals that accompanied every lesson were filled with interesting, intriguing information.

The amazing police and attorney took time to prepare their presentation on their field of expertise, share their personal experiences and their intense training to become a professional, and had patience in answering a multitude of questions.

They are Officer Kostka, who was there every meeting. The other instructors were Officer Aiello, the 911 dispatchers, Officer Butler, Officer Finnerty, Officer Swanson and Officer Czernecki, Detective Kirby, Detective Hamrick, Detective Mandel, Detective Blevins, Detective Cowsert, Officer Nelson, Officer May, Detective Radek, Sergeant Hajek, Officer Tegtmeyer, Officer Sullivan, Officer McGrath, Victim Services Coordinator Kristin Eby, range master Lorenz, and attorney Ernie Bloomquist.

Truly, just listing their names does not do them justice; each put in many hours to make their presentations clear, and detailed so we, as a class, understood their extensive training, huge responsibilities and dedication to our community.

Larry and Tem Williams

Arlington Heights