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Students learn about different police weapons during the Mapleton Youth Police Academy at the Utah County Sheriff's Office on June 21, 2022.

Courtesy Mapleton Police Department

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Police and students engage in a staged active shooter drill at Maple Mountain High School during the Mapleton Youth Police Academy that ran from June 21 to July 14, 2022.

Courtesy Mapleton Police Department

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A student performs an exercise with a K9 officer during the Mapleton Youth Police Academy at the Utah County Sheriff's Office on June 21, 2022.

Courtesy Mapleton Police Department

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Students learn about SWAT while sitting inside one of its vehicles during the Mapleton Youth Police Academy at the Utah County Sheriff's Office on June 21, 2022.

Courtesy Mapleton Police Department

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When joining the police force, there are not a lot of ways for people to truly know what they will be dealing with and if they will ultimately enjoy it as a career, according to Mapleton police chief John Jackson.

“It’s not uncommon to see (new recruits) get on the road, decide it’s not for them and leave. By then they and their department have already invested time and money into a career that will never happen. I wish there was a way they could see real law enforcement before they invest so much time and money trying to get into the career,” Jackson said.

For interested teens, ages 16 to 18, the Mapleton Youth Police Academy offers just that — a glimpse of police life. The academy provides an opportunity to go through and learn from exercises similar to those adults have to pass to enter the police force.

Jackson said the idea for the academy was inspired by a similar program instituted at the Lindon Police Department by police chief Mike Brower, a longtime friend.

“He was telling me about his youth academy and I instantly knew that was what we needed to be doing in Mapleton. The youth of our community are extremely important to us, and I felt like the academy, in addition to (our other programs), would be another way for us to have a positive interaction with our youth (and recruit) quality officers down the road,” Jackson said.

Although it is impossible to cover everything police life entails in the academy, the program gives an overview of different aspects of police work including crime scenes, basic law, evidence, SWAT, active shooter scenarios, dispatch, ride alongs and much more.

All activities are staged to ensure the safety of participants. Along with Jackson, 10 Mapleton police officers take on and teach a topic, sometimes in pairs, sometime with live exercises.

The program will end with a graduation ceremony, dinner and pickleball tournament that participants are encouraged to attend with their families. The ceremony will also include a  demonstration from Nyx, the department’s K9 officer, and her handler, Rebekah Hatch, as well as a live tasering.

“Mapleton’s investment in a Youth Police Academy teaches valuable skills, builds relationships across the community, and inspires lifelong learning and civic engagement among our youth. I have so much appreciation and respect for our officers, all of whom are involved in the program delivery and success,” said Mapleton city council member Jessica Egbert.

The program is free and will be held this summer on Tuesday and Thursday nights from June 20 through July 13. Preference will be given to Mapleton residents or to Maple Mountain High School students.

The academy normally offers eight sessions, but due to the 4th of July holiday, there will only be seven sessions. However, the building search and active shooter session has been adjusted to last four hours instead of the normal two hours, allowing the same amount of comprehensive hands-on training to be experienced.

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