Cadet Commencement – Austin’s Murchison Middle

School – June 2010

Forget “Pomp and Circumstance.” The theme song at one graduation at West Austin’s Murchison Middle School was the theme from the police show “Cops” beginning with the familiar “Bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do? What you gonna do when they come for you?”

That’s because the students who walked across the state at this May 28 event weren’t

seniors. They were cadets from the school’s Junior Police Academy, a national program created to “motivate young people to be outstanding citizens through law enforcement education.”

“It’s fun,” said AISD Officer Patricia Montemayor, better known as “Officer P,” of the JPA class she’s been teaching at Murchison for years.

“Opening a book is one thing. But teaching them how things work is another.”

Friends and family who gathered in the MM’S library to celebrate this year’s graduation ceremony also got a chance to hear from some of the key players in the JPA program.

“They are our future,” said Officer P. If we can keep them safe that’s what we’re here for.”

And even though she won’t have the chance to teach her cadets next year, she hopes they’ll use the law lessons they’ve learned in her class to help her keep the community and school safe in the future.

“I hope all my JPA cadets have a safe summer,” said Officer P. But if anything comes up, you know what to do! Next year I want you to be my eyes and ears on campus.”

[Reprinted from the West Austin News June 10, 2010]

CADETS GRADUATE

ACROSS THE

COUNTRY!

“A FINE PLACE”

Executive Officer Phillip LeConte, who co-founded the program in honor of his police officer dad who, with his friends, cared for and inspired him when he was growing up.

“When I was young I used to get pulled over by the police all the time,” he joked, as he described how his dad and his officer friends became his friends and mentors by checking in and checking up on him.

He paraphrased Ernest Hemingway to describe the relationship he experienced.

“The world is a fine thing and it’s worth fighting for,” he said. “And I was that fine thing that they shifted focus to fight for.” Then he turned toward the graduating cadets to tell them, “Now, you are those fine things.”

[Reprinted from the West Austin News June 10, 2010]

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JPA SALUTES OFFICER BODI OF CREVE COEUR, MISSOURI

Officer Sarah Bodi is the School Resource Officer and instructor of the Junior Police Academy in Creve Couer, MO. Officer Bodi started the Junior Police Academy as anafter school program for students in grades 6-8. They meet once a week during after school activity period for 10 weeks.

The JPA curriculum was used as a springboard for JPA power point presentations and interactive lessons for the cadets.

JPA Cadets do many hands on activities like…watching use of force videos to determine the level of force used and if the officer was justified and inert pepper spray and tasers on targets. They used crime scene equipment to pull fingerprints off items; participated in role plays where they are the responding officers wearing vests and empty gun belts; and they see a defensive tactics demo and get to practice speed cuffing and other tactics on a willing voluntary officer.

Officer Bodi also started a basic and advanced JPA summer camp. They met four days a week from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. The curriculum mirrors the after school program but

includes more intense role plays, voluntary participation in the officer obstacle course and guest speakers which included FBI, Secret Service, Department of Corrections, computer crimes, Mobile Response Team and others.

“Both programs conclude with a graduation ceremony that parents are invited to attend. I usually have a commander or supervisor from the police department address the cadets and their families and then I show the power point of all the activities we have done. They receive their certificates and we usually have refreshments.”

This will be Officer Bodi’s last year as JPA instructor. She has accepted a job as a guidance counselor in the fall. Officer Bodi just had her fourth child and her husband is also a police officer.

Bodi said that the JPA Program has been very effective and well liked at her school. They intend to keep it going with the new School Resource Officer. Officer Sarah Bodi should be commended on her dedication to her students and the positive role model she represented.

Junior Police AcademyCamp DescriptionIf you have ever wondered why a police officer angles their car a certain way when they pull someone over on traffic, wanted to learn how you get fingerprints off of objects, or if you have an interest in becoming a police officer, this is the camp for you.

Camp DetailsAges: 11 - 14Date: July 19 - 22Time: 9:00 am - noon Location: Creve Coeur Community Center

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“We had an interesting incident that happened to one of our students.  After leaving the JPA program he went home and saw what he believed to be 4 solicitors in his neighborhood that he thought was suspicious.  He called me at the office and told me what was happening.  After obtaining a description and location from him I told him I would be sending patrol officers to the area.  

“The subjects were contacted by our officers and at least one of them had priors for burglary and two of the four were fugitives from other police departments.  Graham was recognized by the police department for his attentiveness to detail and willingness to assist the police department.”

Officer Sarah Bodi

WISDOM FOR THE JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR

Chief Tom Clemons training program for instructors is must viewing for anyone working with the Junior Police Academy. Tom provides insights into creating and leading a Junior Police Academy.While attempting to develop a program that would speak to the young people of his community, Chief Tom Clemons discovered the Junior Police Academy.

In his multi-part video, Chief Clemons discusses how he combined the lessons offered by JPA with materials personalized for the kids in his community, creating a one-of-a-kind program that is helping to bridge that tremendous gap between today’s youth and law enforcement officers.

Officer Mitchell Garcia

Officer Garcia is a long time Junior Police Academy Advisory Council member. His help and guidance over the years has been invaluable in making the Junior Police Academy the strong program it is today.

In his video series, he discusses how Houston has adapted the program.

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Officer James Taylor and Officer Steven Creamer conducted a Junior Police Academy Seminar at the 4th Annual Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officer's Associations-NSRO Region 4 School Safety Conference March 24 - 25, 2009 in Leominster, MA.

Officer Taylor is a long time JPA Instructor and member of the JPA Advisory Council. Officer Creamer began teaching JPA more recently and has built a strong JPA Program in the Leominster community.

JPA thanks these two valued JPA Insturctors for introducing the JPA Program at the conference.

As a School Resource Officer, James Taylor is in a unique position to represent the value of the program.

In Goshen, Taylor has been the voice of law and order and a friend to the youth.

Because of this, Officer Taylor has the opportunity to nudge the students who may be pointed in a bad direction, back towards the right path.

It takes three things to make this opportunity possible.

• First, you have to care about the kids.

• Second, you have to win their friendship.

• Finally, you have to earn their respect.

Thankyou JT!

Interview with Officer Rob

Reyngoudt, SROCortland New York Junior/ Senior High

School

Cortland New York

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Officer Reyngoudt has been an SRO since 2004 and has wanted to start a JPA program for several years. Officer Reyngoudt will be holding his first one week JPA Summer Camp July 12 -16, 2010.

“We are exciting about starting a JPA Program here in Cortland”, says Reyngoudt. “In the morning we will have physical training exercises and our afternoons we will be using the Connecting With Kids curriculum and listening to guest speakers.”

“We have a K-9 unit set to come in; evidence technicians; a swat team; the fire department will come in and talk to the kids about CPR and first aid. The NY State National Guard will be there and they are involved in the NY State Counter Drug Task Force. They are bringing with them a 28 foot rock climbing wall, a low ropes

course and a fatal vision goggle course.”

Reyngoudt said that on Friday they will have a community service project for 4 hours in the morning. This is a new idea for JPA and a good one. There will be a graduation ceremony and a family picnic following. Parents are encouraged to attend and are already planning to take the day off to be with the new JPA Graduates.

Reyngoudt is holding enrollment to 20 students this year since it is their first camp. The ages range from 13 to 15.

CORTLAND JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY:

The week-long academy commenced on July 10, 2010, at the Armory, including a Rock

Climbing Wall donated by National Guard, and free

lunches provided by 7-Valley CASA.

Other Junior Police Academies conducted nationwide have

proved to be very successful not only in improving police/civilian

relations but also providing insight to the youth regarding a possible career in police work.

No overtime will be involved and the rules for acceptance into the Academy include at least a “C”

average and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.

REPRINTED FROM THE CORTLAND POLICE

COMMISSION REPORT

Then Kea met Nelson, a cop who works at Everett High School. Officer and student began talking, and in time Kea came to trust the woman with the badge.

EVERETT, Wash. - Months ago, she was headed toward a life of crime.

But now 15-year-old Everett High School student Kea Drummond wants to wear a badge and drive a patrol car.Drummond is one of 25 kids participating this week in the Everett Police Department's Junior Police

Academy.

Students spend the week training with Everett police officers and learning what it takes to be a cop.

At the beginning of the school year, Drummond was hanging out with gang members, using drugs and skipping school.

"She was skipping school frequently," Officer Meg Nelson said. " Hanging out with the wrong crowd."

Then Kea met Nelson, a cop who works at Everett High School. Officer and student began talking, and in time Kea came to trust the woman with the badge.

"Realize hey this person cares about me and maybe I should do something with my life if they say I can," Kea said.

Her life did a 180. Today, Kea's getting "A's" and

BIG TURNAROUND FOR TEEN AT EVERETT JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY

BUILDING INTEGRITY IN YOUNG PEOPLEThe weeklong class may be the last time some students talk about police work, officer Rick Somerville said. Still, they'll likely remember the experience for the rest of their lives, he said.

He hopes the drills, class work and exposure to different law enforcement techniques has helped instill the students with purpose.

"What kind of person are you? What choices are you making when no one is looking?" he asked the students.

It's those moments alone that build integrity in young people and that's what he said he hopes the students will take away from the academy.

"That's what builds character," Somerville said.

Participating in the academy was a privilege and an honor, said Jake Bush, 12, a student at Evergreen Middle School.

"Most people are staying home and playing video games and we've been learning about law enforcement," Jake said. "I really appreciate how the police officers took their time to teach us."

REPRINTED FROM THE HeraldNet - Snohomish County, Washington

"IT WAS THE BEST SPRING BREAK OF MY LIFE," SAID SAGAR GANDHI, 14, AN EIGHTH-GRADER AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. "I NEVER HAD THIS MUCH FUN BEFORE."

CADETS GRADUATE

ACROSS THE

COUNTRY!

JPA is proud to announce the production of a new feature length documentary. exploring the dynamics of the program and the special benefits the program offers both kids and cops. The production is the first step toward preparing a presentation for T.E.D. (ted.com).

TED is a community welcoming people from every discipline and culture who have just two things in common: they seek a deeper understanding of the world, and they hope to turn that understanding into a better future for us all.

NEW PRODUCTION FOR 2011