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By Robyn L. KirschPROGRESS STAFF WRITER
The O’Fallon Police
Department (OPD) had its
largest Citizen Academy
class of 27 individuals
graduate from its eight-
week program Tuesday,
Oct. 28.
“It’s programs like these
that keep O’Fallon spe-
cial,” OPD Chief Eric Van
Hook said. “Captain Mark
Berry initiated this pro-
gram only three years ago
with a handful of partici-
pants and now look around
you and just see how its
flourished.”
A standing ovation from
a room full of residents,
community members, city
officials and officers fol-
lowed Chief Van Hook’s
generous words of Capt.
Berry.
“I already have seven
people lined up in the
wings for next year’s ses-
sion IV, so as you can see
how fast things move
through the grapevine, I
don’t even think I’ll have to
advertise it next year, and
that’s the beauty of educa-
tional community pro-
grams like these,” Berry
said.
Berry pointed out to the
graduates in the audience
that with this diploma cer-
tificate, graduates, “will be
called upon for varying
volunteer opportunities like
the upcoming Breakfast
with Santa Claus hosted at
Amelia Carriel Junior High
School, so wear your OPD
Citizen Academy (cour-
tesy) polos to events you
can help out with so people
can identify you.”
Berry pointed out other
departments in Fairview
Heights, Collinsville and
St. Louis have their own
Citizen Academies offered.
“If this thing continues
to garner attention and
grow legs, so to speak,
maybe additional depart-
ments will join in and
(spearhead) their own,”
Berry added with a chuck-
le.
The class this year had
three O’Fallon aldermen
participate: Jerry Mouser,
of Ward III, Jerry Albrecht,
of Ward II, and Herbert
Roach, of Ward IV.
Mouser said, “This class
has been very cool, and
really was such a very
informative and exciting
time—I’m very impressed
with O’Fallon’s Police offi-
cers and how professional
they are.”
Albrecht said his favorite
part of the academy was
being able to ride along
with an officer for a whole
shift.
“There were a variety of
instances and calls but
going along and witnessing
all I did just simply con-
firmed what I already
thought about the officers
of the OPD—they demon-
strate their professionalism
time and time again,”
Albrecht said. “Seeing the
behind the scenes was very
neat and Capt. Berry told
us going in that it’s all
about perspective, and it’s
so true.”
According to Roach, the
virtual reality-based train-
ing with real-to-life scenar-
ios and target shooting
training equipment called
PRISM was his favorite
element of the academy
training.
PRISM is owned partial-
ly by the Southwestern
Illinois College Police
Academy and also by the
Southern Illinois Law
Enforcement Commission
(SILEC), which is a state
funded training organiza-
tion for law enforcement.
“Being beholden to time
when an important deci-
sion needs to be made—the
quickness that is demanded
in a stressful moment full
of distractions like inno-
cent bystanders or victims
was fascinating to me,”
Roach said. “We ought to
be proud that O’Fallon has
such a great team of people
protecting us, and not to
mention the facilities,
training and equipment
O’Fallon has at its disposal
is amazing.”
Many who have miscon-
ceptions about the manner
police officials conduct
their business should con-
sider taking the course,
Roach said.
“If they could see the
efforts and the controls the
police have put in place to
ensure they don’t go over
the line and everyone stays
safe, then I think they’d
have a much better under-
standing of what they do
and just how much is
demanded of them. I mean
there’s a lot more prepara-
tion for these guys before
they go out on the street is
even more extensive than I
initially thought.”
According to Van Hook,
this year’s session was a
challenge for the depart-
ment to keep up with sim-
ply because the class limi-
tation was originally set at
20 students.
“We were pretty much
topped out with 27, espe-
cially with some of the
important hands on practi-
cals and activities like the
gun range safety course
and the police officer ride
alongs, but we managed
very well.” Van Hook said.
“Berry did a great job facil-
itating still a very personal
and interactive, in depth
experience for the students
all the while being respect-
ful and mindful of their
time in the academy.”
Van Hook went on to
explain that this year’s ses-
sion included a new ele-
ment—fire safety.
“Fire Chief Brent
Saunders held a presenta-
tion on Fire Safety and he
did an outstanding job giv-
ing the class an insider’s
view into the Fire
Department and all they
do,” Van Hook said. “We’re
aiming to come full circle
with the entire Public
Safety Department theme,
not just Police and
Emergency Medical
Services we provide here.”
“This Academy provides
a great opportunity for our
citizens to learn more about
law enforcement and our
Police Department,” said
Mayor Gary Graham. “I
encourage you to get your
application in early as the
spots will fill up quickly.”
The Academy is taught
by officers from the
O’Fallon Police
Department and guest
speakers from other agen-
cies. This academy is open
to citizens of O’Fallon and
persons working in the
O’Fallon area. There will
be a tax deductible $25
course fee to the partici-
pants that will be donated
to “The BACKSTOP-
PERS, Inc.” The Academy
is designed to give partici-
pants a realistic view of
police work by providing
instruction and education
on different aspects of law
enforcement.
Academy classes were
from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday
evenings from September
through October in the
OPD Community Room at
285 N. Seven Hills Rd.
Participants are intro-
duced to the structure of
the Police Department as
well as basic information
that all police officers must
know to perform their jobs.
Topics included, but were
not limited to, patrol tactics
and training, general inves-
tigations, firearms, gun
safety, fire safety, response
to resistance, CPR and
AED training.
Due to the nature of the
course and curriculum,
individuals with prior
felony and/or certain mis-
demeanor charges/convic-
tions are declined. The
OPD will accept next
year’s participant applica-
tions next summer in July
2015. Interested persons
are encouraged to come to
the O’Fallon Police
Department to pick up an
application or print a copy
from their website:
www.ofallon.org/citizens-
police-academy
O’FALLON PROGRESS NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014PAGE A10
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OPD Citizen Acdemy huge success
PROGRESS/Robyn L. KirschThe O’Fallon Citizen Police Academy Session Three graduation class, con-sisting of 27 individuals who live or work in O’Fallon, with the O’FallonPolice Department Command staff, Honor Guard and other officers onTuesday, Oct. 28.