Registration Opens For Citizen's Police Academy With February Start

OSWEGO, IL — Registration is open for the Oswego Police Department's free Citizen's Police Academy that starts Feb. 22.

The program offers Oswego residents and business owners the chance to learn about their local police department and its officers' duties. Held Wednesday nights at in the community room at police headquarters, 3355 Woolley Road, classes will discuss topics including patrol, investigations, crime scenes and drunk driving enforcement.

The program will run for 13 weeks, and each session will run from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. Class sizes can be a minimum of 12 and maximum of 20 people, officials said.

Students of the academy may also participate in practicals to experience what it's like to be a police officer. Open dialogue during sessions is also encouraged.

Once participants complete the academy, graduates are eligible to join the Citizen's Police Academy Alumni group. To be eligible, people 18 and older must reside, own property or operate a business within Oswego.

To pick up an application, interested people can visit police headquarters or fill out an online form. The deadline to apply is noon on Feb. 17.

Anyone with questions about the Citizen's Police Academy can contact Officer Stephen Bailey at 630-551-7364 or Deputy Chief Kevin Norwood at 630-551-7300.