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Pelham Police announces inaugural youth academy, modeled on Fairview Heights program, targeted for 2026
Summary
The Pelham Police Department unveiled plans for the Pelham Youth Police Academy (PELUM PD), based on training Officer Levita Scott observed in Fairview Heights, Illinois. The program emphasizes citizenship, knowledge and responsibility and is expected to begin in 2026.
Pelham — The Pelham Police Department announced plans July 7 to launch its first youth police academy, a summer-style program the department intends to start in 2026 and model on the Fairview Heights (Illinois) program Officer Levita Scott observed in June.
Chief Ed Delmore introduced the topic, saying the department already has strong community ties and aims to expand youth engagement. Officer Levita Scott described a two-week visit to Fairview Heights Police Department in June during which she and her daughter observed that department’s long-running youth academy.
“With the police academy coming to Pelham, our vision is to set and maintain challenging but achievable standards for Pelham’s youth through education, guidance, and consistent application that will create patterns of success for a lifetime,” Officer Scott said. She outlined three guiding principles she observed in Fairview Heights: citizenship, knowledge and responsibility, and she described program activities that included classroom sessions with testing, CPR certification, team-based outdoor activities, high ropes and canoeing.
Officer Scott said the Fairview Heights program has had about 1,500 participants as of 2025 and noted demonstrations by specialized teams such as an Illinois State bomb squad during academy sessions. She also described an on-site camping and meal-rotation routine for squads and said her daughter Kayla Scott was recognized at the Fairview Heights academy as the 2025 most athletic female participant.
The Pelham program will use the acronym PELUM PD to summarize its goals: Professional, Educated, Leader, Healthy, Accountable and Moral. Officer Scott said planned curriculum categories include self-discipline, self-development, academics, fitness and team building. Chief Delmore said school resource officers and other department staff will be involved in running the academy.
The council and other elected officials in the meeting expressed support. Councilors thanked Scott and Delmore for bringing back a tested model and said they look forward to an inaugural class in 2026. No specific budget, enrollment limits or schedule were presented during the meeting; those details will be developed by the department and reported later.
