Sign up for Citizen's Police Academy with Lombard Police Department

The Lombard Police Department invites citizens living or working in Lombard to participate in the 29th Citizen's Police Academy, beginning Sept. 10.

The academy provides an understanding of modern police procedures and the challenges officers face.

The program provides a free opportunity for citizens to meet members of the Lombard police force, while gaining a hands-on experience of police work.

Classes will be taught by Lombard officers and cover topics including traffic stops, firearm training, search and seizure laws, defensive tactics training, police dog protocols and training, as well as other hands-on instruction.

The free 10-week class will be 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Sept. 10.

Applications are available for printing online at www.villageoflombard.org/cpa or for pickup at Lombard Village Hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave.

Class size is limited and citizens may contact Jennifer Wetzel at (630) 873-4462 with any questions.

The Citizens Police Academy was started in 1997 to inform members of the community on the various aspects of the police department and to offer a better understanding of how the police department works. The course curriculum contains a condensed version of basic police training with practical exercises.

Those participating in the academy attended classes and lectures taught by members of the department. The extensive curriculum included lectures on community-oriented policing, crime prevention, laws of arrest, search and seizure, domestic violence and investigations to name a few. Those attending also participated in firearms training, traffic enforcement, police defensive tactics and police ride along. Classes for the academy are held one day a week for 10 weeks, concluding with a graduation.