2025 Update: The Lombard Citizen’s Police Academy class is now full. Thank you to everyone who registered! If you weren’t able to join this year, we encourage you to watch for next year’s opportunity.
The Lombard Police Department invites citizens living or working in Lombard to participate in its 35th Annual Citizen’s Police Academy, beginning Tuesday, September 9, 2025. This free program is led by Lombard police officers and designed to provide participants with an inside look at how the police department operates, modern police procedures and how the department serves the community.
The Citizen’s Police Academy is a 10-week program held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Lombard Village Hall, located at 255 E. Wilson Ave, as well as other nearby locations. The program will begin on September 9 and run through November 11, with a graduation event scheduled for November 18, 2025.
The academy will consist of classroom instruction, interactive discussions, and hands-on practical exercises focusing on various aspects of police work, including investigations, forensics, traffic stops, firearm training, specialty teams, critical incidents and more. After completing the program, participants will have a better understanding of police procedures, equipment, responsibilities, demands, and the laws governing the actions of police officers.
To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years old and live or work in Lombard. The class size will be limited to 20 participants to ensure a quality, interactive experience.
About the Lombard Citizens Police Academy
Since 1997, thirty-four (34) Lombard Police Department Citizens Police Academy sessions have been taught with 536 graduates. The purpose of the Citizens Police Academy is to inform members of our community on the various aspects of the police department and to give them a better understanding of how the police department works. The course curriculum contains a condensed version of basic police training with practical exercises.
Those participating in the academy attended classes and lectures taught by members of the department. The extensive curriculum included lectures on community-oriented policing, crime prevention, laws of arrest, search and seizure, domestic violence and investigations to name a few. Those attending also participated in firearms training, traffic enforcement, police defensive tactics and police ride-along. Classes for the academy are held one day a week for ten weeks, concluding with a graduation ceremony.
"Citizens Police Academies" have been used nationwide by numerous police departments. They report outstanding results in gaining citizen support. As a result, graduates of the academy act as representatives for gaining community support for their police departments and enhance the community policing efforts to reduce crime and fear of crime.