The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
IN THE LINE DUTY
Program teaches high students duties of police officers
Staff at the Lorain Police Department is holding a week-long camp that teaches Lorain High School students what it’s like to be a police officer.
The Lorain Police Explorers Youth Academy, part of the Boy Scouts of America, will utilize Lorain police property at 2130 W. Park Drive, the old Lorain National Bank, to teach lessons on the duties of a law officer.
“The Explorers program is kind of a youth program for police departments nationwide, and our post, 2911, is run out of Lorain High School,” said Lorain police Officer Jake Morris. “We have our group, completely comprised of Lorain High Students and recent graduates, in our after-school program learning more about what we do.”
Morris said the program, which has existed for a while, was revitalized in January.
“We went back to it and wanted to put forth more of an effort,” he said. “The kids really responded to it and have shown a ton of interest.
“We meet for a couple of hours after school every first and third Wednesday of each month. Those meetings are almost restricted to what we can do at the school. And with the couple of hours we have, this is a way of rewarding
the students for their hard work.”
Morris said the goal of the week was to keep the interest of the students.
“We know the kids sign up for the program to do things like self-defense and putting people in handcuffs,” he said. “The first aid and mental health stuff is not really what they envisioned, so this is our way of thanking them for learning that stuff.
“The self-defense component will have participants in Redman Suits (defense training safety gear). We will go over the amount of force needed for someone who is unruly. We will then review how they did and whether more or less force should have been used. They will also get to go through a simulation area to teach how best to deal with possible gunmen in a building.”
Morris said the program is mutually beneficial to the students and the officers.
“The immediate idea is that the students are benefitting, but it’s a two-way street,” he said. “We learn a lot about them as well. We get to meet different teens in our community, and it allows us to connect with them in a way we never could have without the program.
“It also allows them to see our faces and names. It allows them to know the person behind the badge and it means a lot for everyone involved. The program also provides more capable hands in the community. Kids from the program have helped do things like parking lot security in the past. They may not become police
officers. The goal of the program is to teach them how to succeed in whatever they choose to do.”
Valeria Hernandez, 18, a recent graduate of Lorain High, said the program has taught her a lot.
“It has been a fun time,” Hernandez said. “I am more aware of what they do and have more of an appreciation.
“I will not be an officer, I want to be a chemical engineer. But I have learned some valuable lessons, nonetheless.”
Richard Morales, 15, and a sophomore at Lorain High, said he has enjoyed the after school activity.
“They keep it interesting,” Richard said. “It means more to hear about their jobs from that primary perspective. I could possibly see myself becoming an office someday.”
Lorain High students may sign up for the Police Explorers Youth Academy during their lunch period at the beginning of the school year, or by calling Morris or Officer Reuben Figueroa at 440204-2100.
“I am more aware of what they do and have more of an appreciation.”
— Valeria Hernandez