Junior Police Academy cadets learn about the OOB police department

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Graduates of the Level One Junior Police Academy led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Dec. 6 Town Council meeting.

The Junior Police Academy is a new program through the Old Orchard Beach Recreation Department open to local students in grades one through five. Participants, or cadets, attended weekly classes in November, where they met with local police officers

“They, in a very age-appropriate way, learned a lot of the duties and responsibilities of our police department, and they did some job training,” said Assistant Recreation Director Nikki Duplisea.

Participants learned how to collect fingerprints at a mock crime scene and in the scenario solved who stole cookies from a cookie jar at the recreation department office.

Cadets who have completed the Level One Junior Police Academy can enroll in a level two academy.

Duplisea said the recreation department wants to expand the program to include the fire department.

“We think its super-important to continue to learn about our local heroes and what they do for us,” she said.

She said the recreation department was fortunate to have a community that supports the class and its goals, and she was grateful for this support from the police department and town.

Town Council Chairman Shawn O’Neil praised the program and said he was happy to see a high level of interest from local children.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea,” he said.

For more information on the Old Orchard Beach Recreation Department, check out the department’s website.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.