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All applicants must be 21 years of age.  A background check will be conducted on each applicant.  The Oak Forest Police Department reserves the right to deny admission to the Academy based on the information found as a result of the background check.

AGREEMENT:  By signing this Electronic Signature Acknowledgment Form, I agree that my electronic signature is the legally binding equivalent to my handwritten signature. Whenever I execute an electronic signature, it has the same validity and meaning as my handwritten signature. I will not, at any time in the future, repudiate the meaning of my electronic signature or claim that my electronic signature is not legally binding.

Electronic Signature:

The Citizen's Police Academy is a 10-week program designed to give citizens a working knowledge of Law Enforcement and the Oak Forest Police Department.  The program is offered free of charge and is limited to 20 students per session. The class will start on Monday, February 6 at 7 p.m. and will meet every other Monday until Monday, June 12.  Each block of instruction will provide an in depth overview of how a particular division of our department functions.  The program will be both informative and educational, at times, allowing students an opportunity to experience actual hands on training.

Goal of Academy

The goal of the academy is to offer citizens insight into how police officers perform their duties and how the department serves the community.  The purpose of the academy is to foster better communication between citizens and police through education.  The academy creates a nucleus of well-informed citizens who possess greater insight into police practices and services.  Graduates of the academy are encouraged to share their knowledge and experience with the community as opportunities arise creating a win-win situation for the police department, participants, and community.  

Benefits

We encourage our citizens to get to know the officers through the various programs that we sponsor throughout the City of Oak Forest and law enforcement community. When the police department and citizens take a more personal interest in each other, the community benefits in many ways. Open lines of communication are developed which builds a sense of safety and security. We continually strive to see that the police department and the community work together to ensure that the City of Oak Forest is a safe and enjoyable place to live and work. After graduation, students will be encouraged to join the Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association. The Alumni Association will provide the citizens with an opportunity to continue with their education in the field of Law Enforcement, to work with the police department, and help with various projects in the future if they desire.

Reason for the Academy

The Oak Forest Police Department has developed the Citizen's Police Academy with the goal of enhancing communication between the police department and the community, thereby creating a greater understanding of an officer’s role in our community. The concept of law enforcement and community working together plays a vital role in reducing crime in the community. The input and support that we seek from our citizens is critical in helping us perform our duties and provide the best service possible. We will encourage the academy graduates to assist us in identifying problems within our community and developing solutions.  We hope that our graduates will take their experiences back to our community and apply what they have learned, to ensure the quality of life in Oak Forest.  This will serve to educate and encourage other citizens to get involved with the Citizens Police Academy and community.

Qualified Applicants

Citizens who apply to the Citizens Police Academy must be 21 years of age. All applicants will be subject to a background check.  For those who are interested in seeking more information about the Citizen Police Academy or wish to obtain an application should contact: 

Officer Tracy Weiland
Oak Forest Police Department
tweiland@oak-forest.org

Dear Parent or Guardian:

There will be times during the year when our Citizens Police Academy (CPA’s) are involved in projects or events that get publicity in the newspaper or on television. Permission is required from you to include your name .and/or picture in news articles; programs or projects involving the Oak Forest Citizens Police Academy.

AGREEMENT:  By signing this Electronic Signature Acknowledgment Form, I agree that my electronic signature is the legally binding equivalent to my handwritten signature. Whenever I execute an electronic signature, it has the same validity and meaning as my handwritten signature. I will not, at any time in the future, repudiate the meaning of my electronic signature or claim that my electronic signature is not legally binding.

Electronic Signature: