Youth police event teaches life skills

By Jacob Becker and Edward Mazzu
BengalNews Reporters
 The 17th Annual Youth Police Academy was held at Buffalo Police Headquarters on Saturday, March 24. The event hosted nearly 70 middle school students, many from the West Side, who had the opportunity to learn about making healthy choices and the dangers associated with drugs and crime.
 The Youth Police Academy was established at West Side Community Services when members of the Citizens Advisory Group to the Police Commissioner made the decision to try and reach middle school students and create positive interactions with local law enforcement.
 “We started out with just a few young kids and progressively have grown to where we are today,” said Danette Porto, human service coordinator at West Side Community Services and senior member of the citizens advisory group who developed the idea for the Youth Police Academy. “I am happy every year to do this. It’s a part of me now.”

Youth Police Academy event at Buffalo Police Headquarters that featured an assortment of activities and training designed to help kids make better choices for their future:


 The day started with a presentation by Detective Daniel Redmond of the Buffalo Police Department. Redmond, who is also a member of the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force, spoke to the kids about the dangers associated with drugs and the consequences that accompany a life of crime.
 “For people in the [West Side] neighborhood, if you are trying to raise your kids and your kid can’t ride a bike because there are 10 guys selling drugs out of the house next door, the neighborhood gets destroyed and nobody wants to live there,” said Redmond, who is in his second year with the Youth Police Academy. “It’s a huge problem, but people don’t want to talk about it.”
 The Youth Police Academy serves as an introductory course for students interested in learning about law enforcement and grants kids first-hand experience about the duties of a police officer. Students who complete the program will receive a graduation certificate and credit for community service.
 Past academy graduates, like Benjamin Gerald, 14, a freshman at Western New York Maritime Charter School, may then choose to become Police Explorer Scouts. The scouts are a drill team that competes with other departments nation-wide in basic law enforcement training, such as building searches.
 “I came to the Youth Police Academy in 2009 and was really interested in joining,” said Benjamin, who is aspiring to be in the United States Marine Corps. “I really like to compete and this program helps me to develop the skills I will need in my future.”
 Members of the Center for Health and Social Research at Buffalo State College were also invited to give a presentation about making healthy lifestyle choices. The Center’s “Got Health” initiative stressed the importance of diet and daily exercise while striving to be happy.
 “It’s great every year to see these kids come in with their enthusiasm,” said Michele Graves, Community Coordinator for the Center for Health and Social Research. “We talked to them about college and how important it is to be healthy and stay away from crime.”
 The Youth Police Academy has positively impacted the lives of many children, some of whom have gone on to be police officers. For the kids who were in attendance, the invaluable lessons learned are vital to the life decisions they will face in the future.
 “Today I learned about drugs and to stay away from people who use them,” said Luis, an eighth grader at Hillery Park Academy. Edited by Michael Canfield