New Cary Officer Toughs it out in Springfield

Veterans at Cary Police Department warned Arthur Radulski, a newly hired Cary police officer, about the Illinois State Police Academy.

Radulski says it's tough, like being in the military.

He said you get up early, then run and march. The officer said you receive instruction on police work, take a lot of tests and get little free time.

In a special swearing-in ceremony at a Cary Village Board meeting in September, Radulski's father, Ziggy Radulski, pinned on his son's police badge. His mother, Helen, brother, Robert, and sister, Jessica, were present.

"I'm ready to do it once," Radulski said a few weeks before he left for the academy.

Radulski arrived at the academy Sept. 19.  He's not allowed contact with the outside world during the 10 weeks he's there. He does get some time off on the weekends, and he should be returning to Cary in time for the holidays.

Radulski, 25, earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from Northern Illinois University. He said his parents and siblings are proud of his academic achievements and his being hired by the Cary.

Radulski grew up in Hoffman Estates and is a 2003 graduate of Barrington High School.

He said he had childhood dreams of catching bad guys, but it wasn't until he did a ride-along college internship with the Hoffman Estates Police Department that he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement

His first big challenge is making it through the Illinois State Police Academy. He is expected back around the holidays.

"It's tough," said Chad Fetzer, a detective with the Cary Police Department who went through the academy in 2002.

There are other places to get police training, but the Illinois State Police Academy is among the toughest, Fetzer said. 

All Illinois State Police officers—including instructors at the academy in Springfield—wear drill-sergeant type hats, which adds to their mystique and authority, Fetzer said. The academy instructors holler at recruits and expect them to follow orders with fanatical fidelity.

"There was 70 in my class," said Fetzer, recalling his days at the academy. "I slept in a room with 30 guys. The bathroom had five shower heads."

 A warning is posted on the academy website: "It has been said that the Illinois State Police Academy is the best thing that you will never want to experience again," the line reads.

Susan Ellis, a detective with the Cary Police Department, is helping Radulski prepare for the academy. She said he is sure he will do well.

Fetzer said Radulski would be a rookie on the Cary Police Department until "we hire the next guy."

A spokesman for the department said the hire of Radulski brings Cary's force to 27 sworn officers. The village and police union are in negotiations. The last police contract expired in spring.

The department is still working under the old contract, which has the salary range of $44,300 to $73,900 for its rank-and-file officers.  The average Cary police officer makes about $72,500.