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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Lieutenant Bill Rowley
DATE: May 4, 2023
SUBJECT:
Resolution ratifying payments in the amount of $8,644 to the College of DuPage and approving estimated payments in the amount of $119,142 to Richland Community College for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2023.
PURPOSE:
Approval of payments is required to send police recruits through the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, a partnership with the College of DuPage and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, and to also the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center, a partnership with Richland Community College and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. This includes wearables (uniforms/PT sets), OC Spray training, classroom/online training, lodging, and meals.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to 2020, the State of Illinois reimbursed police officers' basic academy training from State funds directly to the academy. In January 2020, the State informed municipalities across Illinois that they would be required to pay for basic police officer training, with the possibility of future reimbursement by the State. Depending on state funds, this reimbursement could be in full or partial payment. Before this announcement, the City typically paid $330 per recruit, which covered wearables and OC Spray training, while the State covered the remaining balance.
In 2023, the current cost per recruit, including room and board, wearables, and OC Spray training, are approximately $6,619 for those recruits attending the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center.
In 2023 the Aurora Police Department hired two police officers already employed by another municipality and attending their basic police training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, where room and board are not part of academy costs. The Aurora Police Department was required to pay academy costs to the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at $4,696 per recruit for a total of $8,644.
DISCUSSION:
The primary purpose of the police academy is to prepare new officers for a career in law enforcement. The academy provides basic training for recruits to become certified Illinois Law Enforcement Officers. This certification requires that recruits successfully complete a 560-hour (14-week) comprehensive training course. The police department has used the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for approximately three years. Other academies have either been unable to meet our standards or have been unable to grant us the number of slots needed to train our recruits annually.
In 2023, two recruits hired by another municipality were already enrolled in the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy. Restarting their training at our preferred academy was neither practical nor efficient, so we elected to allow these two recruits to complete their basic training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy. This is a common practice for agencies that hire police recruits already in training.
We request ratification for the two Suburban Law Enforcement Academy recruits for $8,644. These two police recruits attended the academy from January 9th, 2023, to April 28th, 2023.
Approval is requested for the remainder of 2023, for which the police department anticipates sending eighteen more recruits to the Macon County Law Enforcement Center basic academy, with nine beginning on May 7th, 2023, through August 25th, 2023, and nine more starting on September 9th, 2023, through December 22nd, 2023.
The total amount to send these 18 additional recruits to the Macon County Law Enforcement Center academy is approximately $119,142.00. Our total anticipated police academy costs will be $127,786.00. Our 2023 budget provides $242,000.00 in account 101-3536-421.42-48 to pay for basic academy training.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
If the basic academy training costs are not approved, it will prevent us from maintaining police staffing levels and negatively impact public safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Authorization of the ratification and approval of recruit training expense for a total amount of $127,786.00 for the calendar year 2023.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution ratifying payments in the amount of $8,644 to the College of DuPage and approving estimated payments in the amount of $119,142 to Richland Community College for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2023.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has stopped reimbursing the Richland Community College, Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center, and the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy for police recruit training; and
WHEREAS, The Aurora Police Department has been utilizing the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for approximately three years; and
WHEREAS, The Aurora Police Department hired two recruit police officers who were already in training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy; and
WHEREAS, The City of Aurora must have new recruits trained at the police academy before they are assigned to patrol the streets of Aurora, IL; and
WHEREAS, funding for basic academy training is budgeted for 2023 in 101-3536-421.42-48.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: ratifies payments in the amount of $8,644 to the College of DuPage and approves estimated payments in the amount of $119,142 to Richland Community College for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2023, and authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to execute the necessary orders to complete.