Criminal Justice Students Join Community Police Academy

A group of students from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice is getting the special opportunity to take part in a police training program.

The group of five students signed up for the Plantation Police Department’s Community Police Academy. The academy lasts eight weeks and features a series of informative presentations on a variety of topics that will teach these students about the roles, responsibilities, and functions of the Plantation Police Department. Among the activities include riding along with a patrol officer, participating in police-related scenarios, and getting instruction in weapons safety.

Upon completion, the attendees will also get a certificate, apparel, and accessories. Dr. Grace Telesco, associate professor and Director of the School of Criminal Justice, feels the academy is a great way to bolster police and community relations. “Civilians come in with a notion of the police and what the police do, how the police should behave and how the police should interact with them. When they get immersed in the training that officers go through … they get to see the other side and it’s been very enlightening and very helpful to educate the community about what the police do.”

Telesco speaks from experience. She ran a similar program during her time with the New York Police Department, and she mentioned how it’s beneficial for police to also engage with members of the community. Telesco hopes to continue the collaboration with Plantation police and have other students join in the future.

This group of attendees is set to graduate from the academy on September 30th.