(Submitted photo)
By Renee Larr
The Zionsville Police Department is partnering with the Boys and Girls Club to host the seventh annual Teen Academy June 8 through June 12.
Officers will instruct participants in several topics including traffic stops, internet usage, identify theft, special response team and character development. Participants will also tour the jail and “role play” along with classroom training. The session will officially conclude June 26 with a luncheon to present certificates.
“Last year was the sixth class for this event. This was our largest class so far with 30 participants,” ZPD Capt. Jeffrey Morris said. “We have had exceptional response from students and parents of the participants of our Teen Academy. We are looking for this year to be the best class to date.”
The purpose of the ZPD Teen Academy is to help teens better understand police officers in their community and to strengthen the relationship between the police department and the community.
“The original idea for the academy was to show the student what the police do on an everyday basis and a taste of some of the training that officers go through to learn the job,” Morris said. “It has been our hope that attending this class would help the kids to better understand the relationship that the officers have with the community and their role in helping to keep it safe.”
SIGN UP FOR TEEN ACADEMY
Teens interested in signing up should be between the ages of 12 to 16, in good physical health and have no criminal background. To register visit http://www.zionsville-in.gov/town-services/police/po-services/teen-academy/ and download the registration packet. Registrants can drop off the packet at ZPD, fax it to 873-8026 or email it to [email protected].
