Lisle Public Safety Academy graduates give thanks to first responders

Over the last few months, the Lisle Police Department and Lisle-Woodridge Fire District educated residents about the nature of their work through the Lisle Public Safety Academy. The first class of this joint initiative graduated Nov 13.

On Thanksgiving Day, the program graduates and their families stopped by the police and fire departments to deliver food, gift certificates, and gift cards in a thank you to all the police and firefighters who go above and beyond.

The program's graduates included an individual who was inspired to look into beginning an EMS technician program to give back.

Lisle Trustee Sara Sadat, who has been coordinating drop-offs to first responders, worked with the group this year.

"Traditions are meant to be shared with friends. We are so glad to include this amazing group of dedicated Lisle residents in our annual tradition of taking care of our first responders," Sadat said. "This has become more personal to us since they worked to put out a house fire which affected my family on Feb. 15 of this year."

Starting Sept. 13, participants spent five Monday nights gaining inside knowledge about how the Lisle Police Department and Lisle-Woodridge Fire District work together to keep Lisle safe. They got a behind-the-scene look at the operations and met local police and fire personnel. They also learned police and fire operations through classroom and hands-on learning.