Lexington Police Department offering teens an opportunity to learn the ins & out of law enforcement

Lexington, SC (0614/2021 Paul Kirby) – The Lexington Police Department is building upon its successful Citizens Academy by offering a program for teens this summer. According to organizers, this series of day long sessions will give the students an opportunity to get an inside look at the work that Lexington’s officers perform daily.

The Citizens Academy for adults has been in place for quite some time. They are offered several times a year and each time registration open, they fill up fast.

Citizens Academy participants learn everything from crime prevention to investigations, K-9 handling, and scene management. They also have opportunities to use some of the firearms and other tools Lexington officers have at their disposal every day. This usually culminates in a ride along with an officer that’s actually patrolling the streets of the town on shift. By the time the course is completed, participants have a new outlook on what officers do and have often made lifelong friends of the other participants and officers.

The youth version of the Teen Citizens Academy is scheduled for July. Participants must be a rising 7th grader or in any grade through their senior year. Registrants also need to have an interest in law enforcement.

The sessions will be just one day but there will be a great deal of information presented as well as some hands on experiencse. Participants will have breaks provided throughout the day and local merchants will provide drinks and snacks during those.

Those who are interested can find more information along with the application on the Lexington PD’s website at http://www.lexsc.com/721/Police. You can also contact PFC. Aimee Lutz at ahlutz@lexsc.com or 803-359-6260 with questions.