Oak Forest HS Partners with Oak Forest Police Dept. to Launch Police Cadet Program

Next year, Oak Forest High School students are going to have an opportunity to learn about a career in law enforcement through a new partnership formed between Oak Forest High School and the Oak Forest Police Department.

According to Oak Forest Police Officer Todd Arthur, “The program is designed to expose students to the daily activities of a police officer and focuses on assignments and duties that normal community members might not see.” Students who participate in the program will be considered police cadets and will report to work weekly at the police department, where they will ride along with police officers, learn about police department policies, and learn about police investigations.

Oak Forest Police Chief Anderson said, “We are excited about the opportunity for the police department to partner with the high school to form the Explore program. It is important for law enforcement to reach out to the youth and form positive relationships. This program is a good way to do that.”

District 228 Social Studies Department Supervisor Colin Milton thought the Explore program was a great way to bridge between the curriculum of the social studies criminal justice class and the real world. Milton said, “The police department will be coming to Oak Forest to speak. [This program] formalizes the partnership we created this year with this class. The police department will be instructing students regularly on law enforcement topics in the criminal law class.”

Topics that will be covered by our police partners in the criminal justice class are youth protection: personal safety awareness, electronics communication procedures, dangerous drugs and narcotics, evidence handling and processing, basic patrol procedures and techniques, and crime prevention, according to Milton.

Chief Anderson and Deputy Chief Kristin initiated the program with OFHS and articulated with the Social Studies Supervisor Colin Milton on the curriculum. Perhaps one day students who have participated in this program to learn about a career in law enforcement will come back to Oak Forest as a member of the police department. Hopefully, a student who is selected for the Explore program “can find a passion for the job and explore additional educational opportunities” related to a career in law enforcement, Officer Arthur said.

Chief Deputy Tim Kristin said, “Students in this program will be exposed to good training, good experiences, and good life lessons.” Students have to apply for the Explore program. When they are selected, they become police department cadets with an actual uniform. They will report to the police department for training this July and continue their training throughout the school year. Kristin also said, “You will able to apply what you learn here [in the criminal justice class] to working at the police department.”

Students can apply for this program by submitting an application to the Oak Forest High School guidance office and interviewing for a position in the Explore program. Officer Arthur said, “If you are looking for a career in law enforcement or law, then this program will give you a hands-on experience.”