Citizen's Police Academy
Ofc. Jeff Zemburski
In 1994, the Schererville Police Department, with sponsorship from the US Department of Justice, launched a new program called the Citizen's Police Academy. CPA, as it is known, is a ten-week course designed to give citizens insight into the workings of their police department. The efforts of the police department are apparent in the academy's motto "Understanding Through Education". Since its inception as one of the first citizen academies in the state, the Schererville Citizen's Police Academy has won the US Justice Department's Exemplary Law Enforcement Award as well as accolades from citizens and members of the media.
Throughout the course, instructors, from within the ranks of the police department, are utilized as trainers for various law enforcement related topics. From session to session the topics may change but a typical curriculum includes: orientation and tour, police canines, firearms and use of force issues, accident investigation, defensive tactics, surviving armed confrontations, pepper spray usage, standardized field sobriety testing, evidence handling, and criminal investigations.
The academy is open to Schererville residents and business owners who are over 18 years of age or older. The sessions are offered in the early spring and fall of each year, subject to enrollment. Class size is limited to 15 students to allow for group interaction and hands on experience. There are no enrollment fees.
If you are interested please contact the Schererville Police Department at 219.322.5000 to see when the next class is forming.
The D.A.R.E Program was originally started in California in 1983 to help keep youth off drugs and shortly thereafter began spreading throughout the country and finally the world. The Town of Schererville and the Schererville Police Department adopted the program in the early 90's and officers have been working in local schools to teach the program to 5th graders ever since.
The emphasis in the D.A.R.E. Program is to educate students on the dangers and consequences of getting involved with drugs and gangs and the potentially negative effects it may have on their health and future. D.A.R.E strives to educate students on how to resist the peer pressure they'll encounter which may influence them into experimenting with drugs and alcohol. D.A.R.E offers a variety of problem solving techniques to students during class discussions and role-playing that are designed to encourage them to respond in a positive, self-initiated manner when faced with these challenges. Discussions focus on feelings related to self-esteem, interpersonal communication skills, and decision making, as well as getting involved in positive alternatives (i.e. sports, clubs, etc.) to help them avoid drugs, alcohol, and other destructive behavior.
The D.A.R.E. Program not only focuses on education students on the effects and dangers of illegal drugs but on the dangers of misusing legally obtained, over the counter and prescribed medication as well. D.A.R.E. also emphasizes the need for youth to recognize that alcohol and tobacco are drugs, which if used at their age, may have much more devastating consequences to their health and development.
The program is instructed by a uniformed police Officer who meets students once a week in their classrooms throughout the semester. The interaction between the officer and students is designed to utilize the knowledge and experience an officer can bring to the program as well as to help students learn to accept and trust authority figures in their lives which they can turn to or seek out when needed for guidance, advice and/or help.
No matter how busy parents get, they should always make time to be involved in their children's life and talk with them on a regular basis. Not only to find out what is going on at school and in D.A.R.E, but to monitor their behavior and recognize early warning signs. There are many warning signs including irritability, mood changes, sudden change in friends, habits, etc.
If you or someone you know would like additional information on drug abuse, drug recognition, early warning signs or other related topics, there is plenty of information on the internet to research. A good source to start with is, 'The Partnership for a Drug-Free America' at www.drugfree.org.
The Schererville Police Department is constantly looking for ways to better serve the local community. As a part of this effort, the department established the "Morning Call Program"
Staffed entirely by senior citizen volunteers, this program reaches out to the ill or elderly living alone throughout the town of Schererville.
Participating individuals are contacted several mornings each week by a volunteer to check on their well-being.
This program is a free service enabling seniors alone to feel more secure. In particular, this program offers senior citizens a few precious moments during the day to interact with someone who cares.
Interested individuals may contact the Schererville Police Department to receive an application.
Or, if you have a friend or relative who might benefit from a volunteer's caring telephone call or would just like more information, please contact the individual below for additional information.
Coordinator: Jeff Zemburski
Telephone: 322-5000 / ext. 2314
E-mail: jzemburski@schererville.org
The Schererville Police Department participates in the nations annual town-wide "National Night Out" Campaign. The event is held every year on the first Tuesday in August at Redar Park from 6pm to 9pm.
The purpose of the event is to bring local residents, business owners, organizations, and community leaders together with law enforcement for the purpose of strengthening neighborhood spirit and promoting crime awareness and prevention. It also encourages the community to join with law enforcement to celebrate our resolve against crime in a festival type atmosphere.
In the past, this event has been a great success with over 2,000 residents attending to show community support for our police department in their efforts to keep Schererville a low crime community. In order to make every year event just as successful, we ask for community support and involvement. Businesses and organizations help make the evening a success by providing monetary, food, or other gift type donations or by hosting a booth for kids’ games and prizes. Businesses associated with crime prevention products will display their products for education and/or give-away purposes and be available to explain their products and services.
Any business or individual who wishes to be a donor or participant should contact Officer Jeff Zemburski at the Schererville Police Department at 322-5000.
Chief Pete Sormaz and the Schererville Board of Safety are pleased to announce that the Schererville Police Department will be hosting Women's Self Defense courses throughout the year.
For the first hour, participants will be in a classroom setting. For the latter part of the class, participants will be asked to perform defensive movements on a wrestling mat in the police department’s exercise room, so please dress appropriately.
If you are interested in attending one of these lessons, please check back on our website in the future. Classes will be posted to the Police Department pages or to the event calendar. Classes will also be announced on our social media pages, Facebook and Twitter.
For further information, please call the Police Department at (219)322-5000.