While most of their classmates are hanging out by the pool, a handful of Park Hill South students are in school learning about law enforcement.
The Riverside Police Youth Academy is in its third year and about a dozen students, mostly from Park Hill South, began the week long course last Friday, July 16, at William Jewel College in Liberty at the school’s rope course where the students learned about trust and team building.
After a break over the weekend the students were back at it in the Riverside Police Department’s training room where they learned how to properly and safely operate firearms. Later in the day the students were put into a simulator when they have to make split-second decisions in complicated scenarios.
On Tuesday the group spent the first part of the day learning about S.W.A.T. Teams and what it’s like to clear a building after an incident. Later in the day the students did physical training and learned what it’s like to work with a K9 officer.
On Wednesday the students will learn about the process of going through court and will wrap up the day learning about crime scene investigations.
On Thursday the day will start out with more physical training along with more simulation training that involves traffic stops and traffic investigations.
The course wraps up this Friday with more simulation training that culminates with a graduation and barbecue lunch.
Riverside Chief of Police, Mike Costanzo, told the Citizen the program targets students who will be sophomores in the upcoming school year but the program has also taken older students.
Most of the students are in the program because of a curiosity about law enforcement while others are looking for something fun to do.
A few of the students however will go on and join the department’s intern program through the high school.
Costanzo said that program is more involved and includes things like spending a whole day with the S.W.A.T. team and doing ride alongs.
“They have the experience,” Costanzo said. “If they do want to go on they know the opportunity is there.”