Cora Beem the associate director of the Police Training Institute in Champaign holds her ground in the classroom, completely comfortable with all eyes on her. She gazes steadily at the newest class of police recruits and congratulates those who have been named squad leaders.
Beem is in charge of curriculum, but always spends time at the front of the classroom. Being in charge of curriculum gives her the opportunity to make sure everything the new officers need to know is learned.
Since she attended PTI 30 years ago, she said the curriculum is “100 percent better than when I left.”
Beem said around 1995 the total required amount of training expanded from 240 to 480 hours. The training period doubled to 12 weeks and practical training was made an addition to learning in the classroom.
These newer physical lessons are always exciting so sometimes it is difficult to sit through four-hour blocks of classroom time said current recruit Patrick Smith. He said Beem makes dry subjects such as law fun and engaging. He described her as, “fun, outgoing and person to person.”
Police training specialist Mike Schlosser said, “The biggest thing she has done is oversee the curriculum.” He said Beem makes sure everything is covered and all teachers know what they are doing. He said she organizes PTI curriculum as a whole.
Director of PTI Krystal Fitzpatrick said she chose Cora to oversee the instructional staff and regulate their use of curriculum required by the state. Cora, “makes certain that changes in the curriculum are incorporated into the instructors’ presentations,” said Fitzpatrick. “She is excellent at knowing all the topics which must be taught, the student performance objectives and how one small change in one area can impact a number of other areas.”
In the classroom Beem is bold. She asks questions and expects answers. The semi-formal atmosphere of the institute, created by assigned seats and uniforms of black dress pants and gray polos with the PTI logo embroidered on it, can be intimidating, but Beem keeps up a continuous dialogue in the front of the room. A current recruit at PTI said Beem is an asset to the classroom because, “she cares about what she’s doing, she’s been through it and experienced it.” He said, “She has the ability to teach, not just tell.”
In the two weeks these new recruits have experienced training so far, this student has picked up Beem’s method exactly. She refers to it as, “Tell, Show, Do.” She believes it is vital for recruits to physically participate in what their job will entail. When she began her job she did not know how to turn the lights on in her police cruiser. Now there are classes in operating the cars and other types of equipment and weapons.
Beem decided to join the police force when her Uncle Mick said their hometown, Pana, would never hire a girl cop. Beem wanted to prove him wrong, and before long she went to PTI in 1980.
She worked for 24 years as a patrol officer in Pana, patrol officer and lieutenant in Taylorville, and Chief of Police in Wilmington and Sauk Village, in Illinois. In 2004 she retired and became a part of the PTI staff.
Growing up, Beem was the oldest of four siblings. She refers to herself as having a type A personality and being bossy. “So in essence I’ve always been a cop,” she said.
Although she says her parents are proud of her, they were reluctant to see their daughter enter such a dangerous career. She said, “My mother aged 10 years the day I put the uniform on.” And the job certainly can be dangerous. She has been shot at and has shot at others. Being an officer puts a person in life and death situations, she said.
Many parts of law enforcement are emotionally hard to deal with. For example, Beem said, “I saw a little two-year-old girl die. That was bad.”
But she has witnessed joyful events as well. “I saw a baby get born.” She held a woman’s hand as she gave birth when the ambulance was stuck in a snowstorm. “You’ll never forget that,” Beem said, her blue-gray eyes glazing over as she remembered.
Beem says her favorite part of a job in law enforcement is dealing with people. To really excel in law enforcement a person must have the “ability to communicate with people.” Beem said the key to the job is cooperation and, “people will do more when you work with them than when you boss them around.” She said, “You don’t win cooperation.” The most difficult part of the job, according to Beem, is dealing with people who are so highly emotional. She said, “It takes a lot of patience and perseverance and empathy.”
Beem is skilled in making jokes in class, but letting the recruits know that the topics are serious. Her small hands beckon to the class to participate, answer and be engaged. She is short, but fills the room with her bright character. She does not carry notes in her hand and her speech is smooth. She never stumbles and always knows exactly what she wants to say. She uses her body to tell stories. By walking around she refrains from being boring and the students constantly pay attention.
When discussing sudden or intense passion she speaks with sudden and intense passion. She is animated and when the situation calls for it she does impressions of Elvis and young children.
Fitzpatrick said, “Cora will always have her hand and heart in the classroom.”
Beem agrees. “PTI is my home. It’s where I started my law enforcement career.”
Since Beem’s days as a recruit, police training has been necessarily updated. Nowadays there are cameras and computers in squad cars. The accepted view of law enforcement has changed as well. Beem said, “Now it’s more of a social service. We do so much more than ‘hook ‘em and book ‘em.”
This is really great! I feel like I actually know her and how the police dept. works.