CHAMPAIGN, Ill. The Champaign County Citizen Police Academy is accepting applications for the 16th session, which will begin Sept. 12.
The academy, which is free and open to the public, provides people with a glimpse into the workings of their local police agency. The academys main function is to improve police-community interaction and communication through education.
Participants meet each Thursday for 12 weeks at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, 1004 S. Fourth St., Champaign, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Topics covered will include crime prevention and community-based policing, drugs, alcohol abuse and enforcement, domestic violence, DUI enforcement, citizen-police contacts, police use of force and firearms safety. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the Champaign County Jail and METCAD and ride with a local patrol officer.
The academy will not meet Oct. 31 or Nov. 28.
To apply, call Lois Welling at the institute, (217) 244-9589.