Residents of Gurnee and Zion, both young and old, will have the chance to learn more about the workings of their respective police departments during upcoming police academies.
The Zion Police Academy will begin a 10-week run on June 9. Adult residents of Zion are eligible to apply for the 20 open spots.
Participants will learn about various kinds of police work, from evidence collection to traffic enforcement and first-aid training.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Candidates will be screened by the police department for eligibility. People who are interested and have questions can reach out to Sgt. Manuel Rivera at (847)872-8000 or via email at [email protected]. The application deadline is May 26.
In Gurnee, local high school students are invited to apply for a Youth Police Academy, a one-week program scheduled for July 6-10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Students entering or continuing high school in the fall of 2026, and recently graduated seniors, are eligible to participate.
Students will learn about evidence collection, patrol operations, technology, including the drone program, as well as defensive tactics and firearms safety.
“Programs like the Youth Citizen Police Academy give students a chance to see firsthand how our officers serve the community each day,” Chief Jeremy Gaughan said. “It’s also an opportunity for young people to build relationships with the men and women behind the badge while learning about the professionalism, training, and technology that go into modern policing.”
The program is free, but registration is required and space is limited. There is a link on the GPD Facebook page for registration and additional information.
No distractions
April is the month that local police put a spotlight on distracted driving.
Motorists can expect increased enforcement from state and local departments who will be on the lookout for drivers who are texting while operating, using social media or viewing videos, among other violations.
“If you need to send a message, check directions, or return a call, pull over and park safely first. Whatever the solution, do not drive distracted. In Illinois, manually using an electronic communication device while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal,” the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.
Finding pets
If you spend much time looking at the social media feeds for local police departments, you’ll see a lot of posts about missing pets. It’s usually a picture of an adorable dog or cat that has been found running loose and is being held in the pet lockup until, hopefully, the owner claims them.
Round Lake Police recently announced that they are now offering a service intended to more quickly reunite owners and their pets.
Pet owners can now provide RLPD with their contact information, pet name and description, rabies tag number, microchip number and photo of their pet. That information will remain on file and can be used to more quickly identify the missing pet’s owner.
To take advantage of this program, pet owners can go to frontlinepss.com/roundlake.
Polar Plunge
A tip of the hat and a fresh-out-of-the-dryer warm bath towel to the Antioch police officers who took part in a polar plunge on March 22.
More Top Picks Wellness
The willingness of the officers to jump into some awfully cold water was for a good cause – Special Olympics Illinois — is admirable.
The plunge raised more than $4,000 to help fund that worthy cause.