Police Academy allowed students to see how officers respond to situations

Kristi R. Garabrandt, The Daily Jeffersonian
·3 min read
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Jazlynne Loy yells at a school intruder with a prop gun during the SWAT team demonstration. Students were taught what to do during an active shooter drill and had the chance to learn how the first responders handle situations during the Cambridge Youth Citizens Police Academy.
Jazlynne Loy yells at a school intruder with a prop gun during the SWAT team demonstration. Students were taught what to do during an active shooter drill and had the chance to learn how the first responders handle situations during the Cambridge Youth Citizens Police Academy.

Cambridge Middle School students had the opportunity to experience what being a police officer was like when they participated in the inaugural Cambridge Youth Citizens Police Academy.

The goal of the academy  was to strengthen relationships between us and the kids," said Ryan Oliver, the school resource officer with the Cambridge Police Department.

Jazlynne Loy, Jasper Payton, both 11, and Gunner Goodman, 13, along with 10 other students spent four days a week for nearly three weeks bonding with and learning from officers from the CPD and the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Members of the Cambridge SWAT team display their equipment and demonstrate their use to students at the Cambridge Police Youth Citizens Academy.
Members of the Cambridge SWAT team display their equipment and demonstrate their use to students at the Cambridge Police Youth Citizens Academy.

Students received hands-on experience in a variety of law enforcement tasks. During the first week, students went through a leadership course with Lt. Melanie Appleman of the Highway Patrol, learning to march in formation, defense tactics, handcuffing and restraints, use of force and what it means, and crime scene investigation with the FBI.

With the FBI, students went through a mock crime scene and completed shoe casting, lifted finger prints and were shown how to investigate the scene.

Jasper Payton dons a SWAT team vest, helmet, and shield at the youth program.
Jasper Payton dons a SWAT team vest, helmet, and shield at the youth program.

Gunner, who wanted to participate because he wants to be a police officer, said handcuffing and restraints along with learning to talk someone down when entering a building were his favorite activities.

During week two, students toured the police department with Capt. Dave Peoples and saw the day-to-day operations of the department. While there they participated in a building search and learned the procedures followed by the officers for clearing a room .

SWAT team members show students at the Cambridge Police Youth Citizens Academy how they would respond if there was ever an incident at the school.
SWAT team members show students at the Cambridge Police Youth Citizens Academy how they would respond if there was ever an incident at the school.

Jazlynne said her favorite thing was the tour of the police station.

"They take calls and stuff and go out and to save people," Jazlynne said, adding she didn't realize the officers did so much.

Also during the second week, students were introduced to department's SWAT teams and K9s, received CPR, first aid and stop the bleed training.

"God forbid there is ever an active shooter at the school, the kids will be trained with the same training the staff has," Oliver said.  "So if we ever have that at the schools, the kids will know how to apply tourniquets, how to package wounds stuff like that."

During the final two days, students went to the firing range where they received instruction  on gun safety. They were able to fire 22 caliber rifles the assistance of officers and troopers and use a shooting simulator.

Jasper liked the defense tactics and learning to talk to people who have a weapon.

The Cambridge Police Youth Citizens Academy students gather around the CPD Incident Command Vehicle, also known as the Hippo.
The Cambridge Police Youth Citizens Academy students gather around the CPD Incident Command Vehicle, also known as the Hippo.

The final day was just a day for the officers to hang out with the youths and have fun with them. They spent the day at Deerassic Park doing archery tag, canoeing, kayaking, water safety and fishing, according to Oliver, who described it a bonding day.

"We want the kids to realize we are not these intimidating people, but that we are everyday people just like them and that there is no reason for them to be scared or intimidated of us when we are here to help them," Oliver said. "We want to strengthen the relationship between us and the kids.

Jazlynne, Jasper and Gunner said they really enjoyed hanging out with the officers and they had a lot of fun with them. Each of them also said they would do the academy again if they could.

The idea for the youth academy came from Police Chief Mark DeLancey who thought if they could do an adult academy then why couldn't they do a youth version.

The youth academy, which Oliver hopes will become a yearly thing, is designed for students in sixth through eighth grades.

Oliver believes that middle school is the time when students are easily influenced and he is hoping developing relationships with them at this age will help them stay on the right path through life.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Academy allowed students to see how officers respond to situation