It’s a summer camp like few others in Clay County. A summer program is putting School kids through a junior police academy. For Middle Schoolers in North Kansas City, they’re getting a first look at a career as the law enforcement officers of the future.13-year-old Damian Perez wants to be a pro soccer player someday, but he says that law enforcement is something that has always interested him. “I did it last year, and it was a really fun experience. I met a lot of new people and a lot of police officers,” Perez said. Perez is part of a group of middle school kids in the Clay County Sheriff’s junior police academy.”Basically, educate them to have a better understanding of what we’re here for and why we can help,” Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Shepard Owens said. The sheriff’s office says it’s trying to teach students what officers do on a daily basis.“I think it helps change perspective,” Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Bear McCulley said. Another sheriff’s deputy, Jeremiah Douglas, says if these kids are the future of law enforcement, he wants to do anything he can to help them do that. 30 kids from the North Kansas City school district were in the week-long program. Police say they’re learning just about everything they need to know about Law enforcement. It even comes complete with a graduation ceremony.”People fear what they don’t understand, so to give kids a little bit of knowledge can go a long way,” Owens said. Another student in the program, 13-year-old Elijah Richardson, says he’s always respected officers for risking their lives every day.The class wraps up on Friday in Liberty, Missouri. The junior police academy is part of the law enforcement career path program. It’s a joint effort between the North Kansas City schools and the Clay County Sheriffs Department.
It’s a summer camp like few others in Clay County. A summer program is putting School kids through a junior police academy.
For Middle Schoolers in North Kansas City, they’re getting a first look at a career as the law enforcement officers of the future.
13-year-old Damian Perez wants to be a pro soccer player someday, but he says that law enforcement is something that has always interested him.
“I did it last year, and it was a really fun experience. I met a lot of new people and a lot of police officers,” Perez said.
Perez is part of a group of middle school kids in the Clay County Sheriff’s junior police academy.
“Basically, educate them to have a better understanding of what we’re here for and why we can help,” Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Shepard Owens said.
The sheriff’s office says it’s trying to teach students what officers do on a daily basis.
“I think it helps change perspective,” Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Bear McCulley said.
Another sheriff’s deputy, Jeremiah Douglas, says if these kids are the future of law enforcement, he wants to do anything he can to help them do that.
30 kids from the North Kansas City school district were in the week-long program. Police say they’re learning just about everything they need to know about Law enforcement. It even comes complete with a graduation ceremony.
“People fear what they don’t understand, so to give kids a little bit of knowledge can go a long way,” Owens said.
Another student in the program, 13-year-old Elijah Richardson, says he’s always respected officers for risking their lives every day.
The class wraps up on Friday in Liberty, Missouri.
The junior police academy is part of the law enforcement career path program. It’s a joint effort between the North Kansas City schools and the Clay County Sheriffs Department.
