Courtesy Anthony M. Garvey, Chief of Police, North Riverside Police Department
The North Riverside Police Department is sponsoring an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies. The Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) is a free program designed to educate North Riverside residents and business owners about the structure and activities of their police department. The CPA is not a “training” class, but is an exciting “informational” class that offers a behind- the-scenes look at law enforcement operations.
The first session of this course, which was held from October 11 – December 13, 2012, was attended by 17 community members. The feedback from the first session was very positive. All of the attendees related that their perception of law enforcement had changed, for the positive, as a result of their experiences during the 10 week course.
The purpose of the CPA program is to bring the police and the community closer together and is based on the concept that informed and educated citizens will be more supportive of law enforcement, and will be more productive in their community.
The CPA will consist of (10) two-hour training sessions held on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The program starts on March 14, 2013 and will conclude on Thursday, May 16, 2013. The class format will include practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises as permitted, as well as lecture.
The minimum age requirement to participate is 18 years old. This is a free program and class size is limited. All applicants will be subject to a background and reference check. The registration deadline is March 6, 2013. Applications are available at the North Riverside Police Department located at 2359 S. Desplaines Avenue and on the village’s website www.northriverside-il.org. Please contact CPA Coordinator Tom Tauer at 708-762-5464 or via email at ttauer@northriverside-il.org for more information.
