Officer Karen Kowal is facilitating the next installment of the Hinsdale Police Academy, which starts next month. (file photo)
Hinsdale's Citizen Police Academy isn't about teaching people to be police officers. The free 11-week program is designed to give residents and citizens who work in the village a better understanding of law enforcement and the Hinsdale Police Department.
Officer Karen Kowal will facilitate the village's annual Citizen Police Academy for the third time when this year's series begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Open to people 18 and older who live or work in Hinsdale, the academy focuses each week on a specific area of law enforcement. Officers volunteer their time to share topics such as investigations, forensics, traffic stops, training, specialty teams and the handling of critical incidents through classroom instruction, interactive discussions and hands-on practical exercises.
Hinsdale resident Cindy Wills completed the academy in 2023. She said she enjoyed every lesson, but found the simulated traffic stops particularly interesting.
"It was fascinating," Wills said of learning what can lead to a police stop, the precautions officers must take to protect themselves and how a driver should behave during the stop.
Wills said she and the rest of the class traveled to a laser gun range in Oak Brook to learn about various scenarios that officers might encounter and visited the DU-COMM call center to see how 911 calls are received and dispatched.
Wills lived in Hinsdale for more than three decades before enrolling in the academy. Others, like Dan Munsterman, signed up in order to learn more about their new hometown.
"I've always found police work interesting," said Munsterman, who moved to the village about three years ago.
Munsterman said the academy fed his curiosity about law enforcement while giving him a deepened appreciation for the stress involved with protecting the community.
"It's a hard job," Munsterman said.
He said his new familiarity with the people wearing the badge and the work they do is reassuring.
"It really makes me feel safer in the community," he said.
He even met a few fellow Hinsdaleans during the academy.
"I'm thankful that I got to do it. I'm grateful to Karen and I'm grateful to all of the police who volunteered," Munsterman said.
Hinsdalean Lino Hernandez said he had a lot to learn when he signed on to participate in the academy. Hernandez and his family moved to the United States from Venezuela several years ago and saw the Hinsdale Citizens Police Academy as a way to learn about his new country, his new town and his new neighborhood.
"When Officer Karen posted about the availability of this program for town residents, I didn't hesitate to sign up for this new adventure," Hernandez said. "The program is very comprehensive, and I am certain that it holds great value for people like me with limited knowledge in this field."
Hernandez said he and his fellow participants learned about the department's recruitment process, traffic accident investigations and even death investigations.
"Undoubtedly, learning about how the police operate daily made me reflect even more on the work ethic and admirable sense of service displayed by each of the officers we met," he said. "The work they perform is truly invaluable, and the connection that the Hinsdale police establish with each and every resident is commendable.
"I am very proud to live in this community," he added.
Applicants are being accepted now for the 2024 academy. All applicants must complete and return an application, waiver and photo release form.
To apply online, visit http://www.villageofhinsdale.org > departments > police department > Citizen Police Academy.
