Citizen Police Academy & Youth Police Academy

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a part of the law enforcement profession? The St. Charles Police Department offers an annual Citizen Police Academy every spring. 

The Citizens Police Academy (CPA) is meant to give residents and business owners a better understanding of how the St. Charles Police Department operates.  Participants will get to meet officers face to face and discover what daily life is like for them. Some of the areas covered in the CPA include:

  • Criminal and narcotics investigations
  • Arrest and search procedures
  • Courts
  • Traffic stops
  • The K-9 unit
  • Taser
  • SWAT team
  • Crime scene processing
  • And many others

When possible, the curriculum makes use of both classroom instruction and outside demonstrations. Students may get an opportunity to do the activity being demonstrated, such as processing a “crime scene” for fingerprints or getting a radar reading on a moving vehicle. The CPA has an added benefit of being a sounding board on how the police department is meeting the needs of its citizens.

The class meets at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays for eleven weeks. Each session will last two to three hours. Most of the classes are held in the St. Charles Police Department 1515 W. Main St. The last class is a graduation ceremony which includes congratulations from the chief of police and the mayor. 

Applications can be picked up at the front lobby of the Police Department, 1515 W. Main St., or download one here. Drop off the completed application, mailed or e-mailed to the St. Charles Police Department in care of Officer Meghan Kramer at: 1515 W. Main St., St. Charles, IL 60174, or mkramer@stcharlesil.gov. All applications are subject to approval, and include a background check.

These classes are open and free of charge only to residents residing within the corporate city limits of St. Charles, property and business owners and their employees, and approved St. Charles high school juniors and seniors.  For more information, please contact Officer Kramer at 630-443-3894, or mkramer@stcharlesil.gov.

Spanish Citizen Police Academy

The Spanish Citizen Police Academy is meant to provide a better understanding of how the St. Charles Police Department operates, and is open to Spanish speaking residents who are 21 years of age and older. Applications also will be accepted for those who live elsewhere but work in St. Charles. Participants will get to meet officers face to face and discover what daily life is like for them.

“We are reaching out directly to St. Charles’ Latino residents with this Spanish Citizen Police Academy,” says Crime Prevention Officer Jim Burden. “As St. Charles police officers, we are here to protect and serve all St. Charles residents. It’s important for all residents to get to know their local police officers and learn about law enforcement procedures as well as important crime prevention tips. We hope that building a relationship with our Latino residents will help them feel more comfortable reporting crimes and help us solve crimes. It’s a win-win.”

Applications can be picked up at the front lobby of the Police Department (630.377.4435) or downloaded from the city web site at www.stcharlesil.gov under “Crime Prevention.”  Once the application has been completed, it can be dropped off, mailed or emailed to the St. Charles Police Department in care of Officer Meghan Kramer at: 1515 W. Main St., St. Charles, Illinois 60174, or mkramer@stcharlesil.gov. All applications are subject to approval.

Academia de Policia en Español

La Academia de la Policía en Español tiene la intención de proporcionar una mejor comprensión de cómo funciona el Departamento de Policía de St. Charles, y está abierta a los residentes que hablan Español y que tengan 21 años de edad o más. Las solicitudes serán aceptadas para aquellos que vivan en otra ciudad pero trabajen en St. Charles. Los participantes conocerán a los oficiales cara a cara y descubrirán cómo es la vida para ellos.       

“Estamos llegando directamente a los residentes hispanos de St. Charles con esta Academia de Policía en Español," dice el Oficial Jim Burden. "Como oficiales de policía de St. Charles, estamos aquí para proteger y servir a todos los residentes de St. Charles.  Es importante que todos los residentes conozcan a sus oficiales de policía locales y aprendan sobre los procedimientos para hacer cumplir la ley, así como sobre los consejos importantes para la prevención del delito. Esperamos que la construcción de una relación con nuestros residentes hispanos los ayude a sentirse más cómodos denunciando crímenes y nos ayuden a resolver crímenes."

Las solicitudes se pueden recoger en el vestíbulo frontal del Departamento de Policía (630-377-4435) o descargarse del sitio web de la ciudad. Una vez que se ha completado la solicitud, se puede dejar en el departamento de policía o enviado por correo o por correo electrónico al Departamento de Policía de St. Charles al cargo del Oficial Meghan Kramer en: 1515 W. Main St., St. Charles, Illinois 60174, o mkramer@stcharlesil.gov. Todas las aplicaciones están sujetas a aprobación. 

Youth Police Academy

2019 Youth Police Academy Application Packet

The St. Charles Police Department conducts its annual Youth Police Academy in the summer; however, no academy was held in 2020 or 2021. Students accepted into this program learned about multiple law enforcement issues in a fun, friendly, hands-on environment. This opportunity is limited to the first 25 registrants who were residents of St. Charles and/or attended a CUSD 303 school and were between the ages of 13 - 16. Applications will be available on this page, at any of the St. Charles high schools and middle schools, or at the front desk of the St. Charles Police Department, 1515 W. Main St.. Please contact Crime Prevention Officer Meghan Kramer for more information at mkramer@stcharlesil.gov or 630-443-3835.

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updated Jun 08, 2021