Westmont adults who want a hands-on look at how their police department operates can sign up starting Wednesday, July 29, for the fall Citizens' Police Academy, a free eight-week course running Wednesday evenings from Sept. 23 through Nov. 11, 2026.

Class size is limited.

The program meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday and covers SWAT operations, crime scene processing, criminal investigations, patrol operations, mock traffic stops, and firearms instruction, according to an announcement on the village's website. Participants must be 18 or older and either live or work in Westmont.

The department described the academy as an effort to give residents a better understanding of daily police operations and to strengthen ties between officers and the community they serve. Deputy Chief Steve Thompson is the program contact and can answer questions about the curriculum or enrollment.

The Westmont Police Department, headquartered at 500 N. Cass Ave., has offered the Citizens' Police Academy on an annual basis. A similar session ran in 2025, when the department also hosted a Junior Police Academy for teens ages 12 to 15. No Junior Academy has been announced for 2026 as of Wednesday, July 29.

No fee is listed in the announcement, consistent with prior years' offerings.

How to register

Residents can fill out the online registration form on the village's Citizens' Police Academy page. Those with questions can contact Deputy Chief Thompson at [email protected] or 630-981-6371.