Participants learned about police call priority and the local jail.
By SARAH POULTON
YOUNGSTOWN — City youths have made the commitment to become "agents for change" by attending the Youngstown Police Department's Youth Police Academy, a veteran officer says.
Detective Sgt. Delphine Baldwin-Casey of the Youngstown Police Department said she organized the academy to create a bond between the city's youths and the police.
The city's Community Development Agency had funds for the YPD to do something. Casey decided to work with youths because they are at an impressionable age where they can still be easily taught.
The academy, located at the Youngstown Police Department Community Education Center, 1639 Mahoning Ave., meets every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this month. During August, the children will get to, among other things, tour a jail and learn how to act if approached by an officer.
"A lot of times, people get stopped by the police and the problem is that you don't know what you think you know," Casey said. "Communication has a lot to do with what happens to you. Police officers are people, too, and the way you respond to people makes a difference."
The children were educated on probable cause and how facts and circumstances play a role in arrests, Casey said. She also discussed police calls and priorities with them to explain why the police sometimes take a long time to help them.
Life vs. 'Law and Order'
She also tried to teach them the difference between fiction and reality, because with increased violence on TV, crime rates are on the rise.
"I want them to learn how to be leaders," Casey said. "If they learn the difference between right and wrong and can stand up to peer pressure, they can become agents of change."
There was a role-playing session with the children to explain what they are supposed to do when they are approached by an officer. One child played the role of the police and another child played the suspect. They showed what would happen if the suspect complied with the officer and what would happen if they didn't.
"When working with juveniles, I try to stress the importance of consequences," Casey said. "It's important to make young people understand how having a criminal record can impair their future."
Ebony Parker, 16, from Youngstown said her mom wanted her to attend just in case she or her friends ever had a run-in with the law. She is looking forward to learning about the jail.
"There's a lot of kids who are bad," Ebony said. "Being here [the academy] will help them to stay out of trouble and show them the consequences."
Daniel Partika, 11, from Struthers is staying with his grandmother in Youngstown for the summer. She signed Daniel up for this class because she thought it was a great community program. He said that he enjoyed the class introduction by Police Chief Jimmy Hughes.
"I'm excited to learn about the police because I want to be a cop when I grow up so I can help people and help change the community," Daniel said.
On the last day of class, families of the children attending the academy will be invited to a graduation luncheon, where the children will receive certificates. Casey said 55 children applied for a spot in this class, but she could accept only 40, and she regrets not being able to accept everyone.
"I wish I could've taken every kid who called," she said. "This class is important."
spoulton@vindy.com