The next session of the Gurnee Citizen Police Academy has been delayed due to COVID-19 precautions. For updates on the next session, please continue to check this website or follow us on Facebook for announcements.
Gurnee Citizen Police Academy
The Gurnee Citizen Police Academy is a 33-hour block of instruction designed to give the public a working knowledge of the practices, policies, and procedures governing the police department. The instruction consists of eleven 3-hour blocks conducted on a weekly basis. The week 13 session boasts a brief graduate ceremony.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age and of good moral character with no felony convictions.
Classes are held each Thursday evening from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. For more information please contact Education Specialist Tami Martin at (847) 599-7181 or via email.
Class Summary:
Class #27 (March 2016) students wrote a summary of each class. Their writings are below:
Week #1
The class opened with a welcome from Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik, Chief Kevin Woodside, and Deputy Chief Willie Meyer.
I had anticipated that students would be just as excited as my class was on their first night. I was not disappointed. Each attendee introduced themselves and said they wanted to learn as much as possible about what the police do. As a side-note, I notice two members had a striking resemblance to Gurnee Police Commander Brian Smith.
As it turns out his parents are members of the class!
After the introductions Chief Woodside invited me to share some comments. I told the group that perhaps most important thing they will learn is who the police personnel are. I shared they will likely come to see each presenter as the open and warm people that they are, and the students will grow to care very much about each officer’s well-being.
Chief Woodside gave a presentation about officer recruitment, including their “lateral entry” program. It’s an arduous process, and it takes roughly 54 weeks to become a Gurnee police officer. Criterion is rigorous and includes physical fitness and personality testing. Effective communication skills have become increasingly important. Communicating with the public is a skill each officer must do with excellence. Students were also given an in-depth tour of the police facility.
I'm confident that by graduation, this class will see how well the members of the Gurnee Police Department do every part of their job.
Next week (03/10/16) students will discover the 911 center, emergency medical dispatching and receive a tour of the communications division.
Joe Vetrano, Current President, CPA Alumni Association
Youth Citizen Police Academy
The next session of the Gurnee Youth Citizen Police Academy has been canceled due to COVID-19 precautions. For updates on next summer's session, please continue to check this website or follow us on Facebook for announcements.
Applications are available at the Gurnee Police Department and Warren Township High School Student Services.
For questions and to submit an application please contact Public Education Specialist Tami Martin at 847-599-7181 or email TamiM@police.gurnee.il.us
Youth police academy participants will experience virtually every aspect of policing including patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, canine unit, firearms, defensive tactics, and more. The academy is FREE and lunch is provided each day.
Applicants must:
• be able to successfully pass a background examination
• be a high school student in good standing
• be of good moral character
• have reliable transportation