Reporting for Duty: OF's First-Ever Citizens Police Academy Grads

Oak Forest’s streets could become a bit more secure, thanks to a crop of newly trained safety-focused residents who earned formal recognition this week for their police prowess.

Fresh from the city’s Citizens Police Academy are a dozen eager graduates who local officials say “set the bar high” for future program hopefuls. Oak Forest City Council members sent a well-deserved nod their direction during Wednesday’s regular meeting.

“They gave 110 percent in class and in field exercises,” said Todd Arthur, the community programs officer who oversees the Oak Forest Police Department program. “Their eagerness to learn about police work and their willingness to share experiences confirmed that the academy is a win-win for the department and the community.”

City officials say the group is the first to complete the program.

Graduates include Dennis Mitzner, William Lau, Lionel Castillo, George Michaels Jr., Daniel Clark, Conner Savant, Ruth Ensing, Thomas Ulloa, Craig Esposito, Gerald Zagrodnik, Miguel Guerrero and Michelle Deschamps.

The Citizens Police Academy offers residents insights not only about how local police officers perform their duties, but the department’s commitment to serving the community. Its curriculum bolsters education to boost collaboration among residents and officers.

Representatives from the City of Oak Forest say they started the program to, “Create a nucleus of well-informed citizens who possess greater insight into police practices and services, and share that knowledge with the community as opportunities arise,” according to a news release.

The academy is free and open to all residents who are 18 years old or older. For more information, or to register for the fall session, contact Arthur at 708-687-4050, ext. 1219, or tarthur@oak-forest.org.