I'm from the midwest (USA) and I'm not sure what the rule is but here is how I would say it. The City Council is … The class is … The police are … The firefig

I'm from the midwest (USA) and I'm not sure what the rule is but here is how I would say it. The City Council is … The class is … The police are … The firefighters are … The phrase "the police is" sounds so foreign to me, that I am almost certain I've never heard nor said it.