GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Thursday was the final day of the Green Bay Police Department’s 4-day Teen Police Academy. This was the 23rd year of the program; where Brown County high school students get a behind-the-scenes look at multiple facets of the criminal justice field.
Last year the teen academy was canceled due to lack of participation, and it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Now it’s back on track.
“We had a great year. We had about 26 kids participate,” said Melanie Skalmoski, Crime Prevention Coordinator. The cap for the academy is 30.
Students learned about policing in addition to specialty units like the Dive Team, SWAT team and more. They heard from the professional standards division about schooling, hiring processes, and what the area offers for education.
The participants also got to visit the jail, the dispatch center, and participate in other tours.
Skalmoski shared what the kids seemed to enjoy the most.
“Our forensics unit did fingerprinting, so the kids got to practice fingerprinting and looking at their own fingerprints,” said Skalmoski. “Another popular one is our K9 demonstration.”
The teen academy is typically held each year in the beginning of June, right after Green Bay schools let out for the summer.
After the teen academy is completed, Skalmoski says lots of students will then participate in the Police Cadet Program.
Police Cadets is a year long program that meets twice a month for 14-21 year olds. Cadets learn to handle police calls such as disturbances, traffic stops, and crime scene investigations.
Work is already beginning for planning next year’s teen academy. Skalmoski says they’re reaching out to other agencies who may want to be involved, and are looking at what presentations and demonstrations to include.
To participate in the Teen Police Academy, an application is required, and a criminal background check will be run. Anyone with a felony arrest record is not eligible to participate. Additionally, anyone under the age of 18 will need the signature of a parent or guardian.
For more information on the Teen Police Academy, click here.
