Crime & Safety

Citizens Police Academy Gives Lemont Residents Inside Look at Department

About two dozen participants—including Lemont Patch Editor Amanda Luevano—will learn the ins and outs of both the Lemont Police Department and the Illinois State Police during an eight-week course this winter.

If you're a reporter covering Lemont, there's a pretty good chance that your interactions with police are limited to collecting blotter and calling to check on occasional accident reports.

With a few exceptions (), that's been my experience. I've been fortunate enough to receive a tour of the station and meet some great officers, but my knowledge of law enforcement has remained somewhat limited.

Back in November, however, I received an email from the Lemont Police Department about a Citizens Police Academy they were co-hosting with the Illinois State Police. The purpose of the eight-week course, according to the release, is to assist citizens in gaining an accurate understanding of police practices, both statewide and local, and to give them a chance to directly interact with officers.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I was immediately excited about the opportunity to learn a little more about the Lemont police force. My co-workers in Darien and Romeoville participated in the academies in their towns last year, and documented their experiences each week. The goal was to give their readers a behind-the-scenes look at their local police departments.

So on Jan. 25, I joined about two dozen people at the Lemont Police Department for the first of eight classes. My goal in registering for the course was that I'd be able to learn more about the department I cover, and also share what I learn with my readers. I figured if I/we learn at least one new thing about the department each week, it's definitely worth it.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Obviously, I've gotten a little behind with my posts. My first two classes flew by, as did the past two weeks. I promise to be more prompt with my writing over the next month and a half!

Leading the course is Lemont Police Sgt. Therese Thompson and Illinois Police Trooper Clare Pfotenhauer.

For our first class, Thompson and Pfotenhauer gave us an overview of their respective agencies, as well as the differences between the two. We also learned about police training and work hours.

For the sake of brevity, here are some of the highlights:

  • Unlike the Lemont Police Department, which only services the village, Illinois State Police have jurisdiction throughout the state. They cover the expressways and unincorporated areas, as well as towns that are in trouble (i.e. Ford Heights);
  • The Illinois State Police expects to retire about 350 officers this year;
  • The Illinois State Police Academy is a 26-week course, while local training lasts about 12 weeks. All courses require a psychological evaluation, background check and physical fitness exam;
  • In Lemont, officers work 12-hour days, alternating between day and night shifts;
  • Lemont Officer Brian Kondrat, the department's K-9 handler, gave us a look at the various weapons and supplies he carries on his vest and belt—including his gun, handcuffs, taser, pepper spray, baton and three flashlights. Officers are required to wear their bullet-proof vests, which weigh up to 20 pounds—at all times.

Our second session focused on the Lemont police facility, which was built in 2009. We were given a complete tour of the building, as well as a close-up look at some of the vehicles.

The one thing I have to say about the Lemont Police Department is that the facility is huge. From the state-of-the-art training room to the administrative offices, jail cells and heated garage, the building is quite impressive. As Sgt. Thompson pointed out, the village built the facility with the idea that the department would grow with the population, so there's definitely room for more officers when that time comes.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the evening was the photo radar van brought in by the state police. You may have seen them on the news—they are fully equipped with multiple radar guns and cameras, which take pictures of license plates and drivers when vehicles are exceeding the 45-mph speed limit in construction zones.

In case you're not familiar with the fines for speeding in construction zones, the first ticket carries a minimum fine of $375 plus court costs (bringing the total to more than $500), while the second offense results in a $1,000 fine and the suspension of the driver's license.

All photos taken by the vans are reviewed by the state police before tickets are mailed out to drivers. The money collected from fines goes directly to the county and/or township where the ticket was issued, not to the state.

Here's a fun fact that blew my mind: To write the tickets, the state runs the license plate in each of the photographs. Because they only have access to the Illinois Secretary of State's database and are unable to run out-of-state plates, speeding tickets cannot be issued for out-of-state drivers.

Maybe it's just me, but I was really surprised. However, Trooper Pfotenhauer said the situation is similar in other states.

Tonight, I'll head back to the station for our third class, which will focus on traffic stops and driving under the influence. I hear we get to try the department's Fatal Vision goggles, which will give us the opportunity to see through the eyes of an alcohol-impaired driver.

I'm looking forward to the next several weeks. I've already learned a lot, and I hope you will too.


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