Ocoee Police Department to host annual teen academy

OCOEE — With summer comes a variety of summer camps and other ongoing organized gatherings to occupy children’s time and hone their skills or burn off energy.

One such gathering this month will be the Ocoee Police Department’s free Teen Citizen Police Academy, which will offer as many as 25 locals between 13 and 18 years old a look at many topics and aspects related to police life in Ocoee from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the last five days of July. The central location will be High Point Church at 476 Ocoee Commerce Parkway.

“Our academy is for kids to learn the ins and outs of the department,” teen academy leader Officer Patera Scott-Marsh said. “The purpose is for the kids to get an understanding of the day-to-day activities of an officer and the connections of the police department. They can connect with us, and for us, it’s an opportunity to connect with the community. 

“Usually in this academy, we can get kids who enjoy it,” Scott-Marsh said. “Maybe some of them decide they want to become a police officer, intern with the police or volunteer once they turn 18. We get a lot who do that after they complete the teen academy.”

Among the possible topics teens will learn about are criminal investigations, mounted patrols, SWAT, K-9 and traffic, with some hands-on opportunities and instruction from other local agencies in their areas of expertise.

“Crimeline is going to be there,” Scott-Marsh said. “An active shooter scenario will occur. In between, we’ll have our people talking about supervising duties, police equipment, crime scene investigation, evidence, detective work and other things.”

For crime scene investigations, those enrolled in the teen academy will learn how evidence and other items at scenes are properly processed, as well as some practice using some related Orange County equipment, with instructions as to when different types of equipment should be used, Scott-Marsh said.

Another topic of particular interest is the Orange County Aviation Section helicopter team’s demonstration.

“They usually land near Old Winter Garden Road and Bluford Avenue,” Scott-Marsh said, referring to the area near the police station at 646 Ocoee Commerce Parkway. “The kids get to talk to the guys that fly the helicopters, take pictures with them and ask basic questions about their job. Some are dual-certified as pilots and officers. They get to see it land and interact with Orange County CHASE staff, as well.”

Another possible Orange County special unit for this academy would be its dive team, Scott-Marsh said.

“Last year, they did come out,” she said. “We got a chance to see some of the equipment they use, and they talk about how to use it and different procedures. I’m still in the works with some of those Orange County things.”

But one part that definitely will be part of the curriculum and could be most beneficial to the students is the violent intruder segment of this academy.

“Basically, if some type of intruder goes in some school, this teaches them how to interact, what they should or shouldn’t do in those types of situations,” Scott-Marsh said.

The academy has been an annual program for at least six years. Requirements for interested teens include available transportation and a lack of convictions involving violence, sexual misconduct, false statements or felonies. Participants will receive a free Ocoee Teen Police Academy shirt they must wear throughout the academy.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].

Ocoee Teen Citizen Police Academy

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 27 to 31

WHERE: High Point Church, 476 Ocoee Commerce Parkway

REGISTRATION: Through 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, with forms available online through ocoee.org under “Teen Citizen Police Academy.”

CONTACT: Patera Scott-Marsh, (407) 905-3160, Ext. 3024, or [email protected].