Ellington

A room of proud parents eagerly watched their children graduate from the Youth Citizen's Police Academy this morning at the Jackson Police Training Academy on St. Charles Street.

The one-week program taught 27 children ages 12-18 the values and discipline of the Jackson Police Department. It also provides a productive and educational activity for kids during the summer.

Zachary Webster, 12, says his favorite activities this week were going fishing and observing the officers at work while visiting one of the precincts. He also says the program taught him teamwork.

"When we first started marching with our platoon, we were not in sync at all," Webster said. "But as time went on, they told us to look at the person in front of us, and keep in sync with them, and that's how we all work together."

Zachary's mother, Charlotte Webster, praised the program. "I believe it is an excellent program all the way around for the city of Jackson, because it prepares our students—our youth—for their future," she said. "It gives them the opportunity to say, ‘Listen: do not do anything that will affect your future, because you'll land in jail.' So I think it was a wonderful program for our community."

Topics discussed during the week's sessions ranged from anti-bullying training to drug and gang awareness, to the mechanics of arrest and defense tactics. Some of the activities included observing police work at a local precinct, marching in line and learning marching cadences, taking a fishing trip to the JPS Environmental Learning Center, going to see the latest X-men movie, and writing a one-page essay on what's important in their lives.

Each year, the group selects a class spokesperson, and this year it was Cameron Robinson. The officers on stage beamed as Robinson gave his speech during the ceremony.

"At the beginning of the program, I had no idea what my mom was getting me into—I had other priorities, like staying in bed until close to noon," Robinson said, as parents nodded and chuckled.

By the end of the week, Robinson was enjoying his "exciting and adventurous journey," he said, adding, "We learned many things that will be beneficial to us all our lives."

The second session of the program begins June 22. To enroll, contact the Jackson Police Training Academy at 601-960-1378.