Citizen Police Academy

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.

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.

The Academy: Naperville’s Citizen Police Academies are conducted twice a year. The spring course typically runs from early March to early May. The fall course typically runs from early September until mid November. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive weeks. Classes are typically limited to 30 students.

Upcoming Academy: Please check back for details on the spring 2026 session.

Qualifications: All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must reside or work within the City of Naperville. A background check will be conducted on each applicant. The Naperville Police Department reserves the right to deny entry to the Citizen Police Academy based on findings from the background check.

Applications

Applications are only accepted during specified application periods preceding each Citizen Police Academy.

For the spring 2026 session, applications will be available and accepted Jan. 16 – 30.
For the fall 2026 session, applications will be available and accepted July 16 – 30.

No applications are accepted outside of these dates. Applications are accepted in the order they are received. A stand-by list is made once the number of applications goes over the allowed number of participants for the course. Applicants who were not accepted for a course, they must complete a new application if they wish to attend a future course.

Apply: Applications are not currently being accepted. Application materials will be posted here during open the open application periods noted above.

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.