Residents are invited to attend the next Citizen Police Academy, offered by the DuPage County sheriff’s office.

Classes begin Feb. 11 and meet for 15 consecutive Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

While many citizen police academies expose students to law enforcement activities, the sheriff’s Citizen Police Academy also provides students with a hands-on look at the inner workings of the DuPage County Jail, courthouse and crime laboratory.

The academy’s curriculum includes of a variety of interactive experiences, supplemented by limited in-classroom lecture. Each week, students participate in exercises, such as re-enacting traffic stops, dispatching officers, using a firearms simulator and participating in courtroom proceedings.

Other topics include crime-scene investigations, gang enforcement, crime prevention, bomb unit, SWAT team and financial identity theft.

Residents who have graduated from municipal citizen police academies are welcome to attend, as areas unique to the sheriff’s office will be covered in detail. Students also will have the opportunity to join the sheriff’s Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.

The Citizen Police Academy is open to all DuPage County residents. Academy tuition is free, but enrollment is limited to a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants must submit to a warrant and criminal history check. Applicants who have been convicted of a violent crime may be disqualified.

For more information or to register, call (630) 407-2313 or e-mail Sgt. Randy Groh at randy.groh@dupagesheriff.org.

Applications also will be available online at www.dupageco.org/sheriff; click the link for Programs and Services.