Junior Police Academy participants learn about law enforcement
The Upper Dublin Police Department kicked off the second day of the Junior Police Academy wLWh D blDVW DfWHU D lLvH flDVh bDnJ grenade was detonated during a SWAT team demonstration.
The Junior Police Academy, a three-day camp that ran Aug. 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at Upper Dublin Township building and Aug. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mondauk Commons, offered children ages 8 through 12 an opportunity to see what life is like in law enforcement.
Run by Detective Mike Scarpato, the program runs every August and offers children a chance to tour the police station and learn about topics like crime prevention and personal safety. The is the seventh year Scarpato has been in charge of the program, which was started 15 years ago by Deputy Chief Lee Benson.
Highlights from the event included the SWAT demonstration presented by SWAT team member 2ffiFHU 5Rb 7DylRU; D WRuU Rf WhH LnVLGH Rf fiUH, SRlLFH DnG E06 vHhLFlHV; DnG D .-9 unLW GHPRnVWUDtion of drug searches.
Children also got to ask all of their burning questions about police and law enforcement to Detective Mike Gommer during the LnvHVWLJDWLRnV DnG finJHUSULnWV SUHsentation at the station.
Additionally, a police helicopter flyby JDvH HvHUyRnH D FhDnFH WR wave and say hello.
Scarpato said this year’s academy was “very successful,” not- ing there were “a lot of new faces” among the 42 campers. He said children leave with a better outlook on the police department.
“Many come in a little fearful,” Scarpato said. “By the end they’re fULHnGV wLWh Dll WhH RffiFHUV DnG [LW@ gives them a new perspective of the police department.”
For Victoria Nyce, 6, the best part of the camp was the opportunity to spend time with friends and cousins. She said she learned police use handcuffs to “catch bad guys.” She said she liked being able to wave hello to the passing helicopter overhead and enjoyed wDWFhLnJ WhH .-9 unLW lRFDWH hLGden drugs behind a tire during their demonstration.
The police department said in D SUHVV UHlHDVH WhH fiHlG GDy HvHnW was created to “foster good relations among local youths and the police department,” and offered a chance to promote teamwork through various activities like relay races, tug of war and kickball with many of the departments offiFHUV.
6FDUSDWR VDLG fiHlG GDy LV hLV fDvorite part of the three-day interaction the police have with the campers. He said kids get to team up with police and “everybody’s guaranteed a smile when they come out to the event.”