The Brief
- Dozens of teens are getting hands-on law enforcement experience this week through the police department’s High School Police Academy in Lakeland.
- High school students practice felony traffic stops, evidence collection and building searches before tackling a simulated homicide scenario on Friday.
- The program has inspired past graduates to join local agencies, offering a path to public safety careers after age 18.
LAKELAND, Fla. – High school students across the area are stepping into the boots of law enforcement officers this week during a week-long summer academy designed to build career interest and personal confidence.
Hands-On Police Training
What we know:
A group of 21 high school students is spending a week participating in the Lakeland Police Department’s High School Police Academy to gain real-world law enforcement experience. The program provides hands-on instruction in felony traffic stops, crime scene investigations and evidence collection.
Participants also practice tactical drills, such as building searches, to experience what officers face on duty. The intensive summer training builds toward a major simulated homicide scenario on Friday, where students will apply all the techniques learned throughout the week to solve the case.
Student Career Dreams
What they’re saying:…