For the last four years, the Natick Police Department (NPD) has run a Youth Police Academy. This year the academy will run July 17 to 21 at its headquarters, 20 E Central St. NPD offers approximately 30, 12-14 year old Natick residents the opportunity to attend free of charge.
According to Program Director Officer Elizabeth Heffler, “The program is run like a real police academy with physical training in the morning, drilling/marching, and a series of ‘police’ classes.”
All classes are instructed by Natick Police or staff employed by the department. Approximately 15 officers instruct. Cadets who have successfully trained in years past are invited back mentor positions, which allows high school students the opportunity to earn volunteer hours.
“The high school students are new to this year’s program,” Heffler said. “I have chosen nine high school students who have graduated from the academy. This piece was just added because so many students wanted to come back, but they had aged out. They are considered volunteers. They have to earn so many volunteer hours for graduation. I was able to get the hours approved for them. Therefore, they can complete the whole requirement in one week with us.”
“I wanted to develop the program to foster positive interactions between youth and officers,” Heffler said. “We work on respect for others, as well as for themselves. We also work hard on self confidence and how to be a presence.”
According to Heffler, “The applicants have to be upstanding students; they cannot have school attendance/discipline issues.”
“When applications come out in January, spots are filled quickly. We have only posted on social media and put the flier in the school virtual back pack. Registration is completed in April,” Heffler said.
At the end of the training, the students graduate and have an ice cream party.
For more information, contact Officer Elizabeth Heffler, MSC, SRO Natick Police Department, 781-913-9375.
Issue Date:
July, 2017
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