In Week #3 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy, Sergeant Logan Dunn shows class members the various types of drugs and drug paraphernalia we commonly deal with and how we field test them to determine what they are.
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In Week #5 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy, class member Mary Collier responds to an active shooter scenario.
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In Week #4 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy, Sergeant Shawn Schmidt and Officer Mike Cooper prepare the class for weapons range where they each shot our handgun, rifle and shotgun.
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In Week #4 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy (from left) Sergeant Shawn Schmidt with class member Audra Bean shooting our duty handgun, Officer Lingrell with class member Amy Collins shooting our rifle, and, Officer Mike Cooper with class member Tara Jordan shooting our shotgun.
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In Week #3 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy, Sergeants Jason Kizer and Logan Dunn make a presentation to the class on the 2023 Project Hotel California undercover drug case.
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In Week #3 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy, Officer Major Stratton instructs class members Andrea Caldwell, Mike Conrad and Brenda Brunotte on developing and lifting latent print evidence.
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Pictured is graduation night of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy. Pictured from left are: (back row) Officer Seth Lingrell, Dwight Paul, Officer Tristin Williams and Lieutenant Josh Jacobs; (third row): Brenda Brunotte, Andrea Caldwell, Audra Bean and Mike Conrad; (second row): Joe Tulleners, Mary Collier and Drake Huffman; (front row) Tara Jordan, Chief Matt Lingrell, Sergeant Jason Kizer and Amy Collins.
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In Week # 1 of the 2024 UPD Citizens Police Academy, Urbana officer Damion Williams demonstrates the use of our speed measuring devices to class members Drake Huffman, Mary Collier and Audra Bean.
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Submitted story
For six consecutive Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. beginning on Sept. 5 and ending on Oct. 10, the Urbana Police Division conducted its 2024 Citizens Police Academy (CPA) hosting 10 citizens who participated in the program. During our six-week academy, CPA members learned about the day-to-day operations of their police division.
Sergeant Jason Kizer served as the commander of the Academy, helping to manage the weekly programs, presentations and practical exercises for CPA members to participate in. Many officers of the police division were weekly presenters, covering various topics, including:
Week #1 – Class members were provided with the 2024 CPA shirt and a CPA binder to keep the weekly presentations in. Week 1’s program and presenters covered: Class welcome and review of the CPA Curriculum; Organizational Structure; Professional Responsibility Investigations; Introduction to becoming a Police Officer; Recruitment, and Selection & Training. Our evening ended with an orientation tour of the police facility and our Property Room.
Week #2 – Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi was our guest speaker for the class and he discussed the local county prosecutor’s office activities as they work closely with local law enforcement. UPD officers presented on the following topics: Patrol Operations; Traffic Enforcement; Speed & OVI enforcement; Mock OVI Crash Investigation and the use of our two Speed Detection Trailers.
Week #3 – UPD officers presented on the following topics: Criminal Investigations – Laws, Arrest, and Search & Seizure; Investigative Unit – on case preparation; Crime Scene Investigation & Equipment; Class members then participated in practical exercises to identify, develop, photograph and collect latent print and DNA evidence properly. A demonstration of the current trends in local drug crimes was made and class members were shown various types of drugs and paraphernalia we’ve confiscated in drug cases, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. We ended the night with mock suspect interviews. The class learned about a few of our more high-profile crimes, including the investigation and conviction for the 1976 April Fools triple homicides by Ernest Eugene Shepard (now deceased), the 1981 investigation and conviction of serial rapist and attempted murderer, Jesse Crowder Jr., who is currently serving a 125 year to life sentence, and, the 2023 murder investigation and conviction of Jamie King, who is currently serving 18 years to life sentence.
Week #4 – We visited our Weapons Range where class members were able to shoot all of our weapons and put on some of our tactical gear. The class then received a tour of the Countywide 911 Communications Center, hosted by Director Amy Collins and her staff, who presented on the inner workings of the 911 Center and the various challenges they face daily. They reviewed with the class the numerous emergency communication challenges they faced during the school shooting at West Liberty High School in 2016. The night ended with multiple officers sharing information with the class on many of the UPD’s Outreach programs, including an Historical Review of the agency; ALICE – active shooter training; COPs & Bobbers; Safety Town; School Resource Officer; our FOP’s programs for Community Christmas, Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween treats, and, Special Olympic Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Week #5 – We reviewed for the class UPD General Order 1 – Law Enforcement Role & Authority; and, our Response to Resistance & Firearms Use Reporting and Reviews. Class members were given classroom instructions and completed practical exercises on the proper use of OC Chemical Spray, the ASP tactical baton, and handcuffing techniques used by officers. Class members than received classroom instruction of Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE) and participated in simulated practical exercises using what they’d learned in responding to various Active Shooter scenarios.
On our final night, we recognized the 2024 Citizens Police Academy class members with a graduation program. Chief Lingrell made opening remarks to those in attendance, thanking the CPA members for their personal commitment and participation in the program. Sergeant Jason Kizer was presented with a framed Certificate of Appreciation from Chief Lingrell for his role serving as the Academy Commander and for helping to make this program a success. Chief Lingrell and Sgt. Kizer then presented each CPA class member with a framed Certificate of Achievement, a graduation program and a CD of Academy photos. The evening ended with cake, refreshments and fellowship as well as one final class photo.
Citizen Police Academy members and Urbana police officers alike truly enjoyed our time spent together during these six weeks learning more about the police division and getting the feedback that we received from the class members regarding various issues facing policing currently.
The Urbana Police Division is already looking forward to hosting our next Citizens Police Academy which will be held in the fall of 2025. If you are interested in participating in an upcoming academy, please look for registration requirements and the opportunity to register for the 2025 class on the city of Urbana website: www.urbanaohio.com.
Submitted by Urbana Police Chief Matt Lingrell
