With school out for summer and kids’ likelihood of being exposed to some gruesome depictions of malcontents exhibiting disregard for law and order, especially in metropolis cities catering to soft-on-crime policies, public safety pros engage youth by hosting a “Respect for Law Camp.”
As the program name implies, the Respect for Law Camp (RFLC) administered by the Fort Myers, Florida police department is all about acknowledging our nation’s laws, teaching youngsters the principles of good behavior and civic duty, topped off with gobs of athletic competitions of varying sorts.
The Fort Myers PD website states, “The Respect for Law Camp is an annual four-day three-night (overnight) camp for youth ages 11 to 14. Camp is designed to build better relations between the youth in our community and local law enforcement. The youth also learn respect for themselves, others, and the law.”
Expanding on FMPD’s explanation is a brief video of the current Respect for Law Camp, with first responders providing background and history, and footage of the kids having a ball while also equipping them with nuggets of wisdom:
One of the cool caveats to the already-special occasion of hanging out with cops and firefighters is the memorable experience of sitting and working the gadgets of police cruisers and fire engines—you know, bells and whistles stuff.
Most important, though, are the forged bonds between first responders and kids, perhaps influencing some young minds to join the force in the future. Our embattled nation needs to replenish the whittled number of superheroes, thanks to the antithetical buffoonery posed by anti-police and abolition enthusiasts bizarrely fantasizing about a police-less society.
(Photo courtesy of the Fort Myers Police Department.)
Whether in a formal camp or impromptu interaction with a law enforcement officer, I’ve never met a young person who didn’t care to take a front seat in the inner sanctum of a police cruiser, or, as the kids would say, a “cop car.”
Ordinarily, many public safety jurisdictions roll out summer programs designed for young minds to blend educational aspects and athletic prowess, culminating in fun for all.
The National Police Association (NPA) recently published a piece on how the Police Athletic League (PAL) chapters all over America interact with kids by engaging them in a variety of life skills and an abundance of athleticism. The “Respect for Law Camp” is a product of the PAL, whose mindful interactions with youth and expertise in promoting physicality via myriad sporting events are ripe with positive relations.
But it is not all fun and games. Then again, that is debatable…
Ideal to kids, donning authentic public safety gear gives children the reality of how first responders feel, lugging around extra weight while in rapid advance, punctuated by the public safety mindset of saving lives and preserving property.
(Photo courtesy of the Fort Myers Police Department.)
The Respect for Law camp is not just about law enforcement, though, but the triad comprising public safety services.
A component of the public safety conglomerate often working together with law enforcement officers is fire/rescue and EMS personnel. They, too, have certain protocols dictated by laws (emergency vehicle operations have obligatory stipulations set forth by statutes). Thus, paramedics on board a fully equipped ambulance explained all the dynamics of emergency medical administration in public settings, the rights of patients, the safety of the first responders providing health care out in the field, and safely getting to the scene (emergency vehicle operations) and hospital.
(Photo courtesy of the Fort Myers Police Department.)
The Respect for Law Camp has been around for some years, with many law enforcement organizations hosting their community kids.
Similar to the RFLC program is the High School Academy (HSA), going on in West Central Florida.
In the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, high schoolers spending time in a teen academy put on by deputies received a dose of reality when an actual fire call came across the radio. Teaching and role-playing took a back seat while LEOs boarded these teens and transported them to the periphery of a house fire, allowing them to safely observe all the moving parts of serving the community and the public safety pros who courageously get the job done.
“This morning, our High School Academy recruits experienced a real-life scenario when Hardee County Fire Rescue’s presentation was cut short due to a house fire call. Our recruits were able to follow them to the scene and observe the action. Wauchula Police Department Chief Brandon Ball was able to give some further explanation as to the actions taking place on the scene,” a Hardee County sheriff’s spokesperson explained.
(Photo courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office.)
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Tampa also hosts a High School Academy — called the Rising Stars Academy, because deputies wear star-shaped badges— for teens seeking to spend some of their summer learning about public safety and the professionals who respond when the calls for help come in.
The program offered by Hillsborough County deputies is three-fold in objective:
- Develop relationships between future high school seniors and positive adult role models.
- Reward responsible students by providing a challenging, yet enjoyable, week-long learning experience.
- Deliver leadership training that will promote positive citizen involvement.
Prospective Rising Star students must submit an application to the sheriff’s office (like anyone else being involved in any among the array of law enforcement programs), upon which parental consent is required along with a recommendation letter (just like some real-world expectations, such as competitive college scholarships/enrollment), and a short composition attesting to the applicant’s purpose for joining the Rising Star Academy.
Similarly, the Orlando Police and Fire Academy was held for teens. Over two weeks of interaction and instruction were catered to teens, filling their minds with constructive materials.
(Photo courtesy of the Orlando Police Department.)
The Orlando police and fire-rescue personnel just wrapped up a program, affording kids new insights to use throughout the remainder of the off-season and life:
“Congratulations to the graduates of the Teen Police and Fire Academy!
“Tonight we celebrated their achievements in completing the 2-week Police and Fire Academy put on by [the Orlando Police Department’s] Community Relations Division. These teens learned the meaning of teamwork and the important role public safety serves in our community.
“We believe in your ability to lead, to serve, and to inspire. You are the heroes of tomorrow!”
Along with many other community-oriented policing programs just like these, law enforcement entities help fill the downtime with youngsters by uplifting their potential, galvanizing them against a society laden with wayward influences.
Your cops. Your community. Relations flourish with these and many other initiatives.