City Of Wilmington: Mayor Purzycki, Chief Tracy Urge City Teens To Apply For The 2022 Youth Police Academy

Wilmington DE

30 April, 2022

12:12 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Wilmington: April 28, 2022 The free, two-week program is intended to foster stronger police-community relationships and introduce youth to the profession of policing The free, two-week program is intended to foster stronger police-community relationships and introduce youth to the profession of policing The free, two-week program is intended to foster stronger Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Chief of Police Robert J. Tracy today announced the opening of the application process for the Wilmington Police Department's annual Youth Police Academy, which will be held this year from Monday, June 20 through Friday July 1, with the support of JPMorgan Chase. The 2022 WPD Youth Police Academy is a two-week program for young people between the ages of 13 and 17. The academy will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Athletic League (PAL) of Wilmington at 3707 North Market Street. This is a FREE program that also includes breakfast and lunch for participants. Class size is limited, so apply today by visiting www.WilmingtonDE.gov/YouthPoliceAcademy. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on June 3. The WPD Youth Police Academy is designed to strengthen relationships between police officers and the people and communities they serve, while providing Wilmington's young people with a better understanding of the challenges and responsibilities of police work to protect and serve. "We are excited to build upon last year's successful Youth Police Academy, which included 26 youth who learned a lot about the law enforcement profession, and about how our officers protect and serve their neighborhoods," said Chief Tracy. "Programs like this continue to build on the relationships our officers have with the community and help afford youth insights into policing and public service." The Chief said participants will attend a mock police academy involving role-playing, teambuilding exercises, hands-on activities, presentations, and a field trip. In addition, there will also be a physical training component. The curriculum features a range of topics, including conflict resolution, fingerprinting, crime scene investigation, drug awareness, traffic and criminal law, building searches, K9 Unit operations, explosive and bomb investigations, physical agility training (push-ups, sit-ups, light calisthenics), first aid, gang awareness, a discussion about the juvenile justice system, arson and fire safety, report writing, and internet safety. "I hope that young people in our City will once again take this opportunity to learn more about what it means to be a police officer," said Mayor Purzycki. "This is a profession that is vital to a fully functioning City, yet it is one that is continually being questioned and debated in our society today. We need to bridge any gap in understanding and trust that may exist, and I believe efforts such as this academy can help us do more to come together." This year's Youth Police Academy program is being presented with assistance from JPMorgan Chase, which also helps support the WPD's Learn to Ride program and other initiatives benefitting City residents. Mayor Purzycki and Chief Tracy today thanked JPMorgan Chase for its continuing commitment to Wilmington and the residents and businesses of Delaware's largest City. "As the City's largest employer, we feel that it's imperative to foster strong, positive relationships between our youth and law enforcement," said Don Mell, site lead for JPMorgan Chase in Delaware. "By giving young people a first-hand look at this challenging, yet crucial, profession, WPD's Youth Police Academy is building a strong foundation for our City's future." If you have questions about the youth police academy, please contact Sgt. Michael Coleman at (302) 757-2353 or [email protected]. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on June 3 This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author's own.