Did you ever wonder what it would be like to work in law
enforcement? Eighteen Genesee County highschoolers are finding out.The 2018 Teen Sheriff’s Academy is a collaboration between
the Sheriff’s Office and Byron-Bergen School Resource Officer (SRO) Matt Butler.
Butler, who is in his fourth year as SRO for the district, sees the academy as
a natural progression for the community. In his role as SRO, he works to build
ties between the Sheriff’s Office and the Byron-Bergen community. He feels this
camp contributes to that goal. Training takes place this week at Byron-Bergen
High School where students work closely with several representatives from the
Sheriff’s Office.
The academy is geared towards students in grades 10 through
12 who are already considering a career in law enforcement. Each participant passed an application
screening process, an interview, and completed eight hours of Sheriff vehicle
ride-along experience prior to attending.
In planning the Teen Sheriff’s Academy, Butler tried to
condense his own police academy experience into five days. “The goal is
realistic exposure,” he said. “A scaled down version of a true police academy.
It’s five months squeezed into five days, but it should give the students a
good idea if the real police academy is the right place for them.” Participants
undertake classroom work, physical training, tours of the county jail and
communications center, emergency response instruction, and traffic stop
simulations.
Butler’s fellow instructors, Deputy Deb Snyder and Deputy
Chad Cummings, reinforced the message of realistic exposure. “It can take years
to get a job in the Sheriff’s Office and then it can take just as long to be
scheduled during the day,” said Snyder. “We work late nights, afternoons and
holidays. We are open 24/7. We never close.”
“It’s not like TV,” added Cummings. “This experience will
offer a different perspective. The communications, the follow-up, the paperwork
– people don’t think of those when they think of police work. It’s not about
flashing lights and making arrests. That is why we required the ride-along for
this program. During classroom discussion, we want the students to be able to
reference their real-life experience. It’s a whole other side. It’s not COPS, it’s helping people with their problems.”
Cummings did not begin work with the Sheriff’s Department
until 35, choosing first to build a foundation in the military. Ultimately, he
knew he wanted to work in law enforcement. He encourages participants to keep
working toward their goals, even if it takes until they are 35.
In his welcoming remarks, Byron-Bergen Superintendent Mickey
Edwards encouraged the participants to “take advantage of every opportunity
this academy puts in front of you and all the people who are here to help you
be your best”.
“Law enforcement is a
noble career,” said Edwards. “My eldest son is a Police Officer and I couldn't
be more proud of him. There is no greater calling than to protect and serve
others.”
The 2018 Teen Sheriff’s Academy concludes Friday, July 27
with a graduation ceremony and cookout.