Local kids complete Youth Police Academy

By KATIE SEMINARA

This year, the program was opened up to youth outside the city.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youths of the Valley who may be potential law enforcers, council members and mayors earned a graduate certificate Friday from this year’s Youngstown Police Department Youth Police Academy.

“Your service to this community doesn’t end today, it just begins,” said Mayor Jay Williams, to the 34 of 40 graduates who are expected to maintain a certain level of civic duty after finishing the program.

This year’s Youth Police Academy program ran for five weeks and included youth ages 8 to 17. In past years the program was only for Youngstown residents, but this year it was opened up to youth in the suburbs as well, said Detective Sergeant Delphine Baldwin-Casey, academy school commander.

Participants had the opportunity to ride in police cars, explore the modern technology the YPD has to offer and learned what a career in law enforcement entails.

“We are ordinary people in the YPD,” said Chief Jimmy Hughes. “We make mistakes, but we try to do the job that makes you [citizens] proud of us, and we want to share that with the kids.”

All those who completed the program were recognized at the graduation ceremony and awards were given out for best letter written to a chief, best essay on prevention of school violence and accomplishments in gun safety.

Xhandae Smith was awarded first place in the 8 to 11 age group for the letter she wrote to Hughes wishing he would attend her graduation.

“If you’ll be there, Chief Hughes, everything will turn out perfect,” said Smith, 10, of Youngstown, in her letter — and her wish came true.

Highlights of the program for Smith were riding in police cars, understanding what sexual harassment means and learning about police dogs.

“I want to be an investigator,” said Smith, who has attended the program for the past three years.

Alicia Casey of Campbell doesn’t know if her three kids will become investigators or go into law enforcement, but she knows they enjoy the program and believes they gain valuable information.

“They learn a lot about gun safety, and I think that’s important,” said Casey, who also thinks the lessons they learn will help them deal with problems in school the right way.

Areas represented by youth were Liberty, Howland, Campbell, Struthers, Boardman, Girard, Austintown and Youngstown. Police chiefs who attended the ceremony were Robert Gavalier of Austintown, Gus Sarigianopoulos of Campbell and Pat Berarducci of Boardman.

Even though Boardman and other areas outside of Youngstown do not have individual youth academy programs, Berarducci said it’s something that could happen in the future.

“I think it’s a great program that exposes kids to the police department,” said Berarducci, who noted it was special for him to support the program participant from Boardman.

“I’ve always had the mind-set, the more we can do for children, the better,” he said.

The Youth Police Academy provides the future leaders of the area with the knowledge of right and wrong and gives them a strong sense of community.

These programs are the best way for police and community members to network, said Baldwin-Casey.

“Kids should look at this as a steppingstone,” said Hughes — who recalled being a cadet at age 16 and noting he’ll never forget the lessons learned during that time.

kseminara@vindy.com