Citizen Police Academy

Youth Academy Registration Now Open!

The Naperville Police Department is now accepting applications for a six-week Youth Academy to be held this summer to give teens a working knowledge of the Naperville Police Department, as well as an opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive environment.

The academy will begin on May 29, 2025 and continue every Thursday night through July 10 (excluding the week of July 4). The academy will consist of a series of classes, discussions and hands-on demonstrations covering a variety of topics, including police patrol operations, police canines, police investigations, special response team, forensics and more. This academy is free and will be held at the Naperville Police Department from 6 to 8 p.m.

To be eligible to apply, students must be currently in high school or entering high school in the fall of 2025; reside in Naperville or attend high school in Naperville; have parental permission and transportation to and from the police department; and be a student in good standing with no criminal contacts.

To apply, complete the following application and return the signed documents no later than May 21, 2025.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR APPLICATION

Naperville’s Citizen Police Academy gives citizens insight into the inner workings of the Naperville Police Department and the issues that affect law enforcement efforts in the City of Naperville. Instruction consists of classroom lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on demonstrations focusing on various aspects of police work, including patrol, investigations, forensics, and special response, among others.

Classes are held once a week from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for 10 weeks. Classes are limited to 30 students.

Goal: The Citizen Police Academy is designed to help the residents of Naperville better understand how the police work in their community. It is hoped that all graduates of the Citizen Police Academy will get to know more about the men and women who are protecting their community and why they make the decisions they do while performing that duty. When residents take a more personal interest in their city, and the protection of their community and neighborhoods, they will enjoy a safer and closer relationship with their neighbors. The Citizen Police Academy will allow them to have a more interactive association with the police department.

Upcoming Academy

The 10-week Spring 2025 Citizen Police Academy will begin March 5, 2025, and continue every Wednesday night until May 7. All classes are free and will be held at the Naperville Police Department from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Instruction consists of classroom lectures, interactive discussions and hands-on demonstrations focusing on various aspects of police work, including forensics, investigations, patrol and special response, among others. Course content and activities dictate that class size is limited to 30 participants.

Apply: Applications are not currently being accepted. Please check back for updates on upcoming classes.

Why attend?

Community Oriented Policing plays an important and vital role in reducing crime in any community. Naperville's Citizen Police Academy aims to improve communication and obtain citizen input and support throughout the city.

It is hoped that the graduates will become partners with the Naperville Police Department in identifying problems and solutions to the crime issues that are affecting the community. Graduates will take their knowledge back to their neighborhoods where they can use it to enhance the quality of neighborhood life.

Participant Testimonials

"This was a great experience. I plan to recommend the program to friends and neighbors. May even do it again in a few years."

- Kevin C.

"The mock crime scene really gave us the feel we were detectives. Very enjoyable."

- Michael S.

"I learned and took away so much more than I was planning on taking away from it."

- Austin H.

"I really enjoyed … learning about the tools of the trade and how they help to keep everyone involved as safe as possible. I had never shot a taser before either, so that was obviously fun."

- Alexander R.

"The presentations were excellent and provided a wealth of information."

- Arvind A.

"I learned a great deal which I am already using in my everyday life."

- Shosheera F.

"I loved the hands-on practice of dusting for fingerprints, and the crime scene investigation was so fun."

- Amanda W.