Hoping to erase invisible lines of detachment between Brookfield residents and their protectors, the Police Department is about to host its first citizen’s police academy.

Brookfield Police Chief Steven Stelter said he has been involved with other citizen police academies for eight years and believes it is a great tool to bring the community into the Police Department. When residents get to know their officers and feel comfortable talking to them, a relationship of trust can be built, he said.

“(Officers are) viewed as not real people — people view them as robots,” Stelter said. “They do live normal lives. (Residents) can get to know them and see the operations and have a nice team relationship.”

Topics to be discussed will be parole, criminals, terrorism, canines, SWAT and juvenile division. Participants will also be offered a four-hour ride along with an officer, Stelter said.

Trustee Cathy Edwards said this is a great way to educate residents and make them feel more a part of the community and their neighborhood.

“I think this is an excellent idea,” Edwards said at the Village Board meeting. “I am glad you are bringing it to Brookfield.”

Edwards said she would like to see a neighborhood watch program sprout from this idea.
The program should get more citizens involved in the community, Village President Mike Garvey said.

“Police appreciate the extra set of eyes, more phone calls and more tips (are given to the department). A simple phone call makes Brookfield safer.”

The program has been a goal of the chief’s and something Stelter has been wanting to implement into the village, Garvey said.

The ideal class size would be 20 residents. Applicants must live in Brookfield or be a business owner in the village and be 18 or older, Stelter said. A background check will be mandatory.
Applications will be at the Police Department or downloadable on the village Web site starting Oct. 1.

Starting Jan. 8, the academy will meet once a week for 10 weeks. The class will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Police Department, 8820 Brookfield Ave.