Police car donated to criminal justice program at Kofa
When Sgt. Melinda Alexander retired from the Yuma Police Department, she joined Kofa High School, teaching the Career and Technical Education criminal justice program. It provides educational and technical skills instruction to students considering a profession in the field of public safety or law enforcement.
In February, Alexander brought the program to the police department’s attention as well as an equipment deficiency that “was critical to giving her students the real-life education and training they need to compete in events such as Skills USA and to further the educational experiences they seek in the law enforcement field,” Police Chief John Lekan explained during the May 2 council meeting.
The program didn’t have a “generic but operational” police vehicle. “I don’t think she was really particular with how new it was, which we were able to easily satisfy with our fleet of 18 crown Vics,” Lekan said.
Using the city’s surplus property process, the police department presented Kofa High School with a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor for use in the CTE criminal justice program.
“We just happen to have some Crown Vics that are getting ready to be rotated out, that are no longer operational for our 18-hour day of driving around town. But they are in good quality to be able to help in this program,” Lekan said.
The department “recognized an opportunity to support these young students who may be filling future public safety and law enforcement roles in the Yuma community or elsewhere,” he added.
On hand to accept the title to the vehicle were Alexander, Assistant Principal Amy Violette and students Shawn Rico and Alyssa Ochoa. Alexander picked up the vehicle the next day from the police department.