Will County Gazette

Police Chief Brant Hromadka recognized the most recent graduates of Romeoville's Youth Police Academy at the Village Board meeting on June 21.

"These kids all took it upon themselves to go back into the classroom and learn a little about what might be their future career goals," Hromadka said.

Each year the Village of Romeoville's police department hosts a youth police academy for students ages 15-18 to explore the career of law enforcement. According to its website, "the program is designed to help young people explore career and leadership opportunities, life skills, and character education. Participants will learn the many skills needed to be successful police officers in today's world through daily classroom instruction, role playing and practical exercises." The program is one week and is free of charge for the community.

Six graduates from this year's class attended the meeting and were awarded a graduation certificate along with a picture with Mayor John D. Noak and Hromadka. The graduates who attended the meeting were Miranda Beltran, Sahara Hernandez, Ariana Martinez, Helen Ortiz, Sydney Rutherford, and Carina Valdes. "I hope to see many of you on the future eligibility lists of the police department joining Romeoville," Hromadka said.

Hromadka shared that the program helps not only the students, but the officers as well saying, "I hope they take something from this as much as the officers take from it. I know the officers like to see what the future of law enforcement might look like, and I think several of them are in here in this room tonight."

In addition to the Youth Police Academy, the Romeoville Police Department also hosts a Citizen Police Academy for adults in the community. According to its website, "The Citizens Police Academy classes instruct attendees on various law enforcement topics including criminal law, traffic stops and enforcement and many other areas. This program will allow participants to get to know the members of the Police Department better, and that through this personal contact, better understand how and why officers make the decisions they do." The course is offered twice per year, once in the fall and once in the spring.