Program Offers Teenagers an Inside Look at Law Enforcement Careers

Program Offers Teenagers an Inside Look at Law Enforcement Careers

May 15, 2012 | Keri Brown

One area police force is looking for a few good teenagers.

The Winston-Salem Police Department is accepting applications for its Youth Police Academy. The week-long program gives 16- to 18 year-olds an understanding of how the police department functions, in addition to the training and education required to enter the law enforcement field.

"It may be someone that is interested in public safety but doesn't necessarily want to wear a uniform, make arrests and enforce laws. They may want to be that communications operator that answers calls and processes them, or the forensic services technician that collects the evidence and analyzes fingerprints from a crime scene. A program like this will allow them to see many different aspects of the police department," said Officer Jonathan Lewis of the Winston-Salem Police Department.

The Winston-Salem Youth Police Academy is free and runs June 25-29. Students will take courses, tour training centers and perform hands-on activities with the department's firearms training simulator and bomb squad.

Officer Lewis says 30 students will be selected and they must meet certain requirements.

"The applicants must live in Forsyth County, they must be 16 to 18 years of age and they are expected to attend all of the sessions in order to obtain a certificate of completion. In addition to that, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation along with the recommendation form with their application," said Lewis.

The application deadline for the Winston-Salem Police Department's Youth Police Academy is May 18.

The program will be held from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. June 25-29 at the Public Safety Center. Application information is at www.WSPD.org.