TWENTY-SEVEN Grade 11 and 12 students from various Abbotsford high schools spent their spring break last week to learn what it is like to be a police officer.

The 27 students were carefully selected from a group of over 60 applicants to participate in the program which taught basic law, police control tactics / self-defense, and even a day at the firearm range. They included many South Asian girls and boys.

The week-long program ended with the students applying what they learned during a scenario-based training day where they were challenged as “police officers” to resolve problems.

“It’s the most exciting week of the year! I look forward to dealing with the positive side of policing, working with our communities’ youth and testing their abilities as if they were an officer,” said Constable Doug Watkins, the JPA Coordinator, at the start of the class. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for students interested in policing to get a first-hand look at it.”

The Junior Police Academy runs for one week, once a year. If you would like more information about this program, visit the Abbotsford Police website at:

http://www.abbypd.ca/junior-police-academy.