Junior Police Academy Connects Young Students with Officers

In continuing to find ways to engage with the CFISD community, the district’s police department completed its second Junior Police Academy, giving students a week of learning and activities and helping foster the relationship between officers and their constituents.

Created for 9- and-10-year-old students, the academy featured sessions at Cypress Springs (June 7-11) and Cypress Ridge (July 26-30) high schools. A total of 58 students participated in this year’s edition. Academy attendees were grouped into smaller squads, with officers serving as mentors and interacting with cadets on a personal level.

“The Junior Police Academy summer camps continue to be a huge success and each year we have students on a waitlist,” said Eric Mendez, CFISD chief of police. “It is incredible to see the students learn different lessons while participating in various activities during the one-week camp. What’s even better is the interaction the students have with the officers and get to see us in a different light. The camps help our department maintain our belief in educational policing and becoming a part of the student’s educational environment.”

Officers and cadets alternated between outdoor activities, hands-on instruction and classroom training each day. Session topics included social media safety, stereotyping and bullying, gang prevention, drug prevention and gun safety. Cadets learned various skills, including mapping and tourniquet application, while other activities emphasized team building and problem-solving.

Physical training was incorporated daily, with cadets competing in an obstacle course. Fun activities were also fit into the week, giving campers and officers even more opportunities to interact and connect.

Cadets were also treated to unique meet-and-greet opportunities with local public safety first responders. Police pilots and tactical flight officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety flew and landed a helicopter at each campus, Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department firefighters and paramedics showcased a firetruck, and members of City Ambulance Service visited cadets and showcased an ambulance.

Feedback was positive, and plans are in place for possible academy expansion.

“Knowing that we have several hundred students in our district who want to participate every year, I continue to ask, ‘What can we do for next summer? Can we have more camps? How can we make it better?’” Mendez said. “The officers do an outstanding job with the kids in keeping them engaged every single day of the week, finding activities for them to do and lessons for them to learn, and having actual experiences.”

CFISD Junior Police Academy 1: Tactical flight officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety talk to CFISD Junior Police Academy cadets about the Airbus AS350 helicopter. A flight crew flew the helicopter and landed at each academy session, giving participants one of many up-close looks at various first responder units.

CFISD Junior Police Academy 2: Students were treated to meetand-greet opportunities with various first responder units and personnel during the CFISD Junior Police Academy, including a visit from Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department firefighters and paramedics.

CFISD Junior Police Academy 3: Water games were among the fun activities incorporated with classroom instruction and physical training during the CFISD Junior Police Academy.

CFISD Junior Police Academy 4: The CFISD Junior Police Academy featured two one-week sessions at Cypress Ridge and Cypress Springs high schools. Officers and academy participants connected between outdoor activities, hands-on instruction and classroom training each day.

CFISD Junior Police Academy 5: Members of City Ambulance Service were among the first responder units and personnel to visit with Junior Police Academy attendees, who were able to tour the vehicles and ask questions.