Carbondale police hold Citizen Police Academy graduation

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – The Carbondale Police Department held a graduation ceremoney for 2024 graduates of the Citizen Police Academy.

The ceremony was held on May 1 at the city of Carbondale Police Department.

Graduates received their awards for their active participation during the basic and advanced sessions of the academy.

The goal of the police academy is to develop positive relations, better understanding and increased communication between the community and the police department through education.

The academy also provided the graduates an additional opportunity to voice their opinions directly to the police department.

Mayor Carolin Harvey and Interim City Manager and Chief of Police Stan Reno spoke to the graduates. They thanked the participants for taking an active role in learning about policing in Carbondale. Friends and family of the graduates and several members of the police department also attended.

Kristi, Kaanan, Orville, Jace, Miranda, Meghann, Owen and Diamond graduated from the Citizens Police Academy.

“Thank you and congratulations to the Citizen Police Academy graduates,” said Reno. “It’s Police Department outreach such as this that allows us to continue to strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and the community as well as work toward a safer, stronger and more united Carbondale.”

The next Citizen’s Police Academy will be offered in September of 2024. A start date has not been.

Anyone interested in attending the Citizen’s Police Academy is encouraged to contact Randy Mathis at email rmathis@explorecarbondale.com or call 618-457-3200 ext. 402.