Community Police Academy

The Champaign County Community Police Academy is offered in cooperation by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, University of Illinois Police Department, Urbana Police Department, Rantoul Police Department, Mahomet Police Department, Parkland Public Safety, Troop 7 of the Illinois State Police, Police Training Institute, and Champaign Police Department.

Details on upcoming academies will be shared here and on the Champaign Police Facebook page when information is made available.

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Goals of Community Police Academy

• Provide stronger citizen-police relationships
• Enhance lines of communication with our public
• Reduce crime in our communities

Benefits to Champaign County Residents

• Gain a better understanding of the structure and operations of local law enforcement agencies
• Work closely together with police officers and provide input, assistance, and support around community concerns
• Improve lines of communication between police and community
• Make better informed decisions regarding police functions, operations, and issues faced in the community
• Develop solutions to help reduce crime in our communities

Fall 2023 Academy

The Community Police Academy is held once a year and consists of three-hour blocks of instruction conducted weekly over a nine-week period. Classes are held on Wednesdays from 6 – 9 PM at the Police Training Institute, located at 1004 S. Fourth St, Champaign. The Fall 2023 Community Police Academy was held from Wednesday, September 13 through November 8.

Each evening of instruction is designed to not only inform participants of various crime issues, but also seeks participant ideas for possible solutions.  Instruction is provided by Police Training Specialists from PTI as well as officers and trainers from participating agencies.  Graduates of the program will receive a certificate of completion.

Topics of Instruction

• Orientation to Law Enforcement and Police Training
• Tour of the Champaign County Jail and METCAD
• K-9, SWAT, and Bomb Squad Demos
• Ride-along with Local Police Department
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Community Policing
• Judicial System
• Courts, Police and DUI
• Control & Arrest Tactics
• Use of Force
• Traffic Stops
• Crime Stoppers
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal
• Firearms
• Terrorism
• Drug Enforcement
• Safety and Neighborhood Crime Watch

To Register for the Community Police Academy:

The City of Champaign has a very limited number of seats available for each Community Police Academy. Champaign residents interested in participating in the program can email Assistant to the Police Chief for Community Services Joe Lamberson to be placed on a waitlist. When the next Academy is announced, the waitlist will be directly contacted with details on how to register.

Seats will be filled with Champaign residents on a first come, first served basis. Participants must live in Champaign and be at least 18 years of age to qualify for a Champaign Police Department seat at the Academy.

Other Champaign County residents may register for the Community Police Academy by contacting their local Police Department.

• Champaign County Sheriff’s Office
• University of Illinois Police Department
• Urbana Police Department
• Rantoul Police Department
• Mahomet Police Department
• Parkland College Public Safety

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Media Inquiries regarding the Champaign County Community Police Academy program should be addressed to:

University of Illinois
Police Training Institute
1004 S. Fourth St.
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-333-2337