Rocklin Launches Junior Police Academy For Middle Schoolers
ROCKLIN, Calif. (CBS13) - This summer, Rocklin Police Department has opened its doors to middle schoolers for a brand-new program called the Rocklin Junior Police Academy. Twenty-eight kids, aged 11 to 14, get an up-close look at what it really means to serve.
"I don't like to sit and watch other people do it and learn that way. I like to be there and do it," said 12-year-old Chase Rothe.
"There's a lot more respect, 'cause there's a lot more risk than I realized," said 13-year-old Alyssa Sproule.
Rocklin Police Department started the academy as a way to reach out to kids in their community.
"We found that for middle school-aged kids, there was kind of a gap in services or events or activities really that they could do," said Sgt.Gilbert Farulla.
The officers take a hands-on approach, teaching the kids about canines, the bomb squad, and, of course, the SWAT team. Sproule said seeing it all up close has brought a new perspective on police.
"If that's the danger that they have to face to protect it, then that's what they're gonna do and I really admire that end," Sproule said.
"[It's] really touching to hear that, and hopefully, we have some sort of lasting impact on them," said Sgt. Farulla.
"We do a lot of things from in there. We make announcements from there, we have P.A. systems," said an officer.
For 12-year-old Chase Boling Murphy, the academy is the first taste of a career in service he's been eyeing for a while.
"Maybe going into the army and then maybe when I'm done with that, I'll come back to Rocklin as my plan," Rothe said.
And Alyssa said she too would consider a career as an officer, after learning so much this week.
"It's just new ways to you know, be able to defend yourself, even if, you know, if I don't even become a cop, it's something I could use in the future, say someone attacks me, any of these things could be useful," Sproule said.
