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Official website for the City of Aurora, Illinois. Mayor Tom Weisner

The Citizen Police Academy

Cooperation Through Community Involvement

What Is It?

The Citizen Police Academy is a ten (10) week program designed to give the participants a working knowledge of the Aurora Police Department. It consists of a series of interactive classes held once a week, on a designated evening, generally on Tuesdays or Thursdays, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. There is no cost to anyone who enrolls. A background check will also be conducted on each applicant. Classes are held at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 East Indian Trail Road.

When is it?

Spring 2012 class dates are set! CPA Classes begin on Thursday February 16, 2012 and continue each Thursday night for 10 consecutive weeks. Class times are 6 - 9 p.m. Classes will be held in the Community Room at APD Headquarters. Space is limited! See below for a downloadable application. The deadline to register is Friday, sFebruary 3.

Who Can Attend?

Individuals who apply for the Citizen Police Academy must be at least 21 years of age. They must also live in the City of Aurora, work in the City of Aurora, or own property in the City of Aurora.

Why?

Community Oriented Policing plays an important and vital role in reducing crime. Therefore, the Aurora Police Department's Community Oriented Policing Bureau instituted the Citizen Police Academy to improve communication and to obtain citizen input and support throughout the city. It is our hope that the graduates will become partners with us in identifying problems and solutions to the crime issues that are affecting 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
  • Vice and Narcotics
  • 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, also allow them to have an interactive association with the police department.

Goals

One of the goals of the Citizen Police Academy, of course, is to help the residents of Aurora to better understand how policing is conducted their community. It is hoped that all graduates of the Citizen 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.

Application

For more information and applications, call (630) 256-5182. You may also download the application. Once you have finished filling out the application, sign it and mail it to CPAA, Aurora Police Department, 1200 East Indian Trail Road, Aurora, Illinois 60505.