CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Clearwater Police Department has launched its first Teen Citizen Academy for students ages 14-18.
What You Need To Know
- The Clearwater Police Department has launched its first Teen Citizen Academy
- Each week, students aged 14-18 focused on something new, from defensive tactics to the K9 unit
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- The teens met once each week for six weeks, and received a unique behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement
The teens met once each week for six weeks, and received a unique behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement.
“We started the Teen Academy, which was requested by the community, to have our teens come in and see more of hands-on, intimate interaction of how us as police operate,” said officer Lauren Josey-Filer.
One of the first things the teens learned was basic defensive tactics officers use when responding to calls.
“I’m going to contour the back of his head. My forearms are across his collarbone. I’m going to drive the knee into the surface,” said officer Eric Mitchell, as he demonstrated one of the defensive moves.
Romeros Becknel will be a senior this year at Clearwater High School. Normally, you’d find him on the basketball court or in JROTC, but on this particular evening, he’s learning something brand new, and says the Teen Citizen Academy will ultimately help him decide his career — military, or law enforcement.
“It helps the community, and I like the idea of protecting people,” Becknel said.
Each week, the students focused on something new, and after defensive tactics came the K9 unit. Sgt. Robert Main, with the K9 unit, said he can relate to Becknel.
“I always had an interest in it throughout high school, it’s what I wanted to do," Main said. "I got a four-year college degree and then as soon as I was done I was ready to get into law enforcement.”
After doing some demonstrations with the bite sleeve, he showed the students how K9 officers track down suspects.
“He was just explaining how the dogs track and what we release off our body for the dog to track and we just chased him around with the dog to find the person,” said Becknel.
Becknel said he could see himself in Main’s shoes one day, and thanks to this Teen Citizen Academy, he has a whole new appreciation for law enforcement, and the work he aspires to do.