By Dakota Antelman, Contributing Writer
Hudson – After five police officers in Dallas, Texas were killed by sniper in what had been a peaceful demonstration, Hudson Police Chief Michael Burks issued a statement that, in part, emphasized his department’s commitment to community policing. Two weeks later, the Hudson Police Department hosted the second session of one of their hallmark community programs — the Youth Police Academy.
The program, which has been running yearly since 2005, is a condensed version of the six month academy that actual officers must undergo before joining the police force. The program is offered twice, with one group of students completing the academy in late June, and a second, the third week of July. Led by Detective Chad Crogan, students learn military-style marching, interact with K-9 units, explore a State Police helicopter, and participate in use of force simulations among other things. The program teaches discipline and police tactics and also serves to show students the realities of law enforcement.
The Youth Police Academy, which is offered at no cost, has grown considerably since its creation, filling up both of its 2016 sessions in under four hours.
“We hope that the kids who are doing the police academy leave with an understanding of what we as police officers do for a profession,” explained Crogan. “[We want them to understand] what we see and why we do things.”
The program has long been a means of developing relationships with the adults and children who live in Hudson. After a summer that has been fraught with tension nationwide after the controversial killings of two black men by police officers and then the subsequent killings of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, those relationships are as crucial as they ever have been.
“Now more than ever, this is important so that these kids can have an understanding of why we do certain things,” Crogan said. “The media doesn’t always portray the full story; personally I think that. We explain things to them [the students]. They ask us questions and we answer them honestly.”
Parents of students in the camp, several of whom are officers themselves, have been appreciative of what Crogan and his colleagues have taught their kids.
“I think kids have to learn at a younger age how important law enforcement is and how important it is to know that police are on your side,” said Dave Tinglof, a Weston police officer whose son, Nick, participated in the first session of the Police Academy this year. “We’re there to help save lives and protect the community. To let them know that, as a younger generation, is a really positive thing.”
Nick Tinglof notes that his favorite parts of the academy were the lessons and exercises teaching about use of force. He added that the academy itself helped him better understand his own father’s work.
“It was good to know what to do in situations when police officers either have their life threatened or when they have to use physical force,” he said.
Crogan says that bringing students to the police station during the academy is his favorite part of the summer. He is particularly grateful for the opportunity to introduce students to other officers in the Hudson Police Department. By doing that, Crogan said that he and his colleagues are able to connect with students and their families, furthering Burks’ mission to have productive community policing.
“They see us here and they know that we’re just individuals like everybody else who they can interact with on a daily basis,” he added.
Photos/Dakota Antelman