cover
TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Lieutenant Bill Rowley
DATE: February 11, 2025
SUBJECT:
Resolution approving estimated payments not to exceed $114,000.00 to Suburban Law Enforcement Academy for police recruit training in 2025.
PURPOSE:
Approval of payments is required to send police recruits through the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA), a partnership with College of DuPage and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. This includes wearables (uniforms/PT sets), OC Spray training, and classroom/online training.
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.
In 2022, the State of Illinois began to reimburse a portion of these costs under the provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act, 50ILCS 705/9(2). In 2024 the Illinois Training and Standards Board (ILESTB) reimbursed the City of Aurora $66,497.78 for recruit police officers who attended basic police academy in 2024.
The current cost per recruit, including wearables, ammunition, and OC Spray training, are approximately $5,165.60 for those recruits attending the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy.
In 2025 the Aurora Police Department anticipates that we will hire as many as (22) police officers who will be required to attend a basic police academy. The remainder of the estimated hires will likely be those officers who are previously certified via other jurisdictions, "lateral hires" and will not need to attend basic police academy.
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...
Click here for full text