This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Oswego Residents Can Get a Taste of the Life of a Police Officer Through Academy

Sign-up is underway for program that beings Feb. 2.

Not many civilians have the chance to know what goes on in a police department, but starting next month, some Oswego citizens will get the inside scoop.

The 's Citizen's Police Academy will be held for 12 weeks from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Feb. 2 at the department, 3525 Route 34. Officer Stephen Bailey will command the free-of-charge class, which will accept about 20 participants ages 18 and up.

If there is an exceeding amount of interest, there will most likely be another session held in the fall.

"During the end of classes, it's more hands-on," Bailey said. "It's not just what you see on TV."

Each class will feature a different topic, such as learning from an evidence technician about the evidence process; former undercover officers revealing how to go incognito; or when traffic patrol officers advice what to do when pulled over, Bailey said.

Other points of interest will be patrol tactics; narcotics investigations; street gangs; court procedures; criminal code enforcement; and dispatching, among more.

Bailey, who is taking his first shot at leading the class rather than simply presenting one of the weeks, said he hasn't seen just one specific background interested in the CPA.

"I've been teaching for a while and you see anyone from a stay-at-home mom to retirees to someone who just wants to get involved in the community," Bailey said. "Someone who wants to be a police officer will take the class to see what we do. It's widespread."

While students won't receive any special police powers after their graduation ceremony, they have the option of joining the CPA Alumni Association, Cpt. Nick Sikora said.

"They volunteer their time to help us out with things around town," Sikora said, adding the group has been active since the 1990s.

Bailey said the Alumni Association is "a big plus for us."

"They'll do traffic studies for us, they'll go out and do public events and help with traffic control," Bailey said. "They come in and and start our cars in the winter to make sure they're running. It's a lot of behind-the-scenes. It's important stuff."

Those interested in the CPA should fill out an application at the department or online at www.oswegopoliceil.org. Questions can be directed to Bailey at (630) 551-7364.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.