Police open Youth Academy
Lolita Harper
CIVIC CENTER -- It might sound like a fun way to spend a few weeks
during the summer, but police officials are not ashamed to admit they
have ulterior motives for offering the summertime Youth Academy.
“Ideally, this is step one in a long-term strategy to help our
long-term recruiting efforts,” Burbank Police Chief Tom Hoefel said. “The
idea is to get these young adults and get them interested in law
enforcement at an early age.”
Youth Academy is a three-week-long program designed to educate and
interest Burbank youth in grades 9 through 12 in a law enforcement
career, Burbank Officer Darin Ryburn said.
“It will also be a life-building experience that teaches a lot of
aspects of growing up,” Ryburn said.
Police officials hope that Youth Academy participants will then join
the Cadet Program, which the department plans to start again in the next
few months, Hoefel said.
Cadets can become recruits and recruits can become sworn officers. The
process begins by teaching members of the youth community the Burbank way
of doing things, Ryburn said.
“Look at kids that are now 6 or 7. Those are our police officers in
2020,” Hoefel said.
INFO BOX
WHAT: Burbank Police Youth Academy
WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, July 16 to Aug. 2
WHERE: Burbank Police Department, 200 N. 3rd St.
COST: Free
PHONE: 238-3235