Citizen & Youth Police Academies

Citizen 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. 

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. All applications are subject to approval, and incude a background check. 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 Meghan Kramer. “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.”


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 Meghan Kramer. "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." 

Youth Police Academy

The St. Charles Police Department conducts its annual, week-long Youth Police Academy in the summer. Students accepted into this program learn about multiple law enforcement issues in a fun, friendly, hands-on environment. This opportunity is limited to the first 25 registrants who are residents of St. Charles between the ages of 13 - 16 and attend a CUSD 303 school. When this opportunity becomes available, 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 Street. Please contact Crime Prevention Officer Meghan Kramer for more information at mkramer@stcharlesil.gov or 630-443-3835.

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