The Bartlett Police Department provides free and fun programs for youths and adults to educate them about police work. This summer’s recently completed Youth Citizens Police Academy was a one-week course for teens ages 14-16.
They saw demos of K-9 officers taking down suspects, tried their hand at dusting for fingerprints, got a chance to sit inside patrol cars, drove a golf cart while wearing vision-obscuring “drunk” goggles and aimed away at the firing range, to name just a few activities. Department presentations included Crime Scene Investigations, Canine Unit, Traffic Enforcement and Narcotics.
The program lets youths learn, in an educational and non-threatening setting, how the police department deals with issues facing teens today. For information on the next Academy, contact the coordinator, Lt. Todd Halford, at thalford@bartlettpolice.org, or contact Lori Minch at lminch@bartlettpolice.org.
Applications are available at the Bartlett Station Municipal Center, Bartlett Justice Center, Bartlett City Hall, or online.
