After hosting three sessions for grownups, the White Plains Department of Public Safety is expanding its popular Citizen’s Academy to include young people. The first-ever Youth Citizen’s Academy is scheduled to begin Sept. 18th, giving high school sophomores, juniors and senior a chance for a first-hand look at the workings of the city’s police and fire departments.
The free 9-week class meets Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. at Public Safety Headquarters and will be taught by local cops and firefighters.
“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from adults who have been through the academy, and we decided it was time to open it up to young people in the city,” said Police Chief James Bradley.
So far, 65 adults have been through the academy, which includes a class on the law and sessions describing the work done by different units in the department, including the detective, traffic and patrol divisions, the fire department and ambulance and life support services. Highlights include a tour of the firing range and a ride along with an on duty police officer.
Interested students can email Lt. Kevin Chrisotpher at kchristopher@whiteplainsny.gov for more information. Applications can be obtained from the city’s website: http://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/ and mailed to Lt. Kevin Christopher, White Plains Police Department, 77 South Lexington Ave., White Plains, NY, 10601.
