Citizens Police Academy Info

A brief description and contact information from the News-Gazette today:

Citizens Police Academy: 32nd session gets underway April 19

County residents interested in learning how local law enforcement works are invited to participate in the Champaign County Citizen Police Academy.

The academy meets Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. for 10 weeks beginning April 19. Topics covered include crime prevention, community-based policing, drugs, gangs, driving under the influence enforcement, citizenpolice contacts, use of force, firearms orientation, crime scene investigation, a tour of the Champaign County Jail and a patrol ride-along with your local department.

Contact information for your various police agencies where you may live:

• University of Illinois: Lt. Joan Fiesta, jmfiesta@illinois. edu, 217-333-1216.

• Champaign: LaEisha Meaderds, LaEisha.Meaderds@champaignil.gov, 217-403-6987.

• Urbana: Cassie Heldman, heldmacl@urbanaillinois.us, 217-384-2334.

• Rantoul: Alex Meyer (ameyer@village.rantoul.il.us), Chief Tony Brown (tbrown@village.rantoul.il.us) or Kathy Kohl (kkohl@village.rantoul.il.us), all at 217-893-0989.

• Champaign County Sheriff’s Office: Teresa Schleinz, tschleinz@co.champaign.il.us, 217-384-1205.

• Parkland College: William Colbrook, wcolbrook@parkland. edu. 217-351-2369.

• Mahomet: Chief Mike Metzler, mmetzler@police. mahomet-il.gov, 217-586-5533.

• PTI: Meg Hedrick, mjhedric@illinois.edu, 217-333-7788.