Youth Police Academy

Download Youth Academy Application

There are a lot of cop shows on television. But the average citizen, especially the average young person, has few opportunities to experience the realities of law enforcement.

The Rancho Cordova Police Activities League is seeking to provide an innovative and effective program for youth residing in the City. The Youth Police Academy is such a program. It is designed to establish a positive relationship between the Police Department and the City’s youth.

The Rancho Cordova PAL’s Youth Police Academy is a 24 hour (8am - 2pm) four-day dynamic opportunity for 11-14 year-olds to experience what it is like to be a police officer in the United States today. The academy has been designed to be a hands-on interactive experience for motivated youth. Attendees have the unique opportunity to interact and learn in a safe environment with law-enforcement officers. Attendees, through team building exercises, classroom instruction, and numerous hands-on training activities receive an appreciation for the challenges facing police and how police attempt to successfully accomplish their mission in our community.

The goals of the academy are:

• To provide positive interaction with police officers and to educate our youth
• Create a better understanding and communication between young people and police employees
• To enhance the participants’ knowledge about law enforcement

The cadets are introduced to the core functions of policing, including criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and crime scene processing. The hands on classes and demonstrations will be supplemented by classroom type instruction and field trips. Each session will be taught by highly trained professionals. Most of the instructors will be officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department. Program activities will be held primarily in the Community Room of the Rancho Cordova Police Department.

There is no cost for the Rancho Cordova Youth Police Academy.

Participants must fill out the PAL membership application; have a good school record, a clear criminal background and parental permission. This program is not intended or designed for children with disciplinary problems. The Youth Police Academy is not a “boot camp” for troubled youth.

Class size is limited to 18 participants. All submitted applications will be reviewed in the order they are received to ensure that each applicant meets the requirements. A background check will be conducted on each applicant who submits a complete application by the deadline. A waiting list will be established. Applications must be submitted prior to the deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Regular Youth Academy will be a four-day session running from July 6 - 9, 2010. Classes will be held Tuesday – Friday from 8am – 2pm.

Advanced Youth Academy will be a four-day session running from July 13 - 16, 2010. Classes will be held Tuesday – Friday from 8am – 2pm.

The criteria to attend the Advanced Youth Academy is prior attendance of a PAL Regular Youth Academy.

Parents are required to attend a meeting with the Academy Staff prior to the start of the academy. During the parent meeting, the program will be discussed in detail and parents will be asked to sign all releases and waivers.

The mandatory parent meeting will be held on June 24, 2010 at 6:00pm in the Community Room at the service center.

Application packages are available now. No application will be accepted after 5:00pm on Thursday, June 24, 2010. Packages can be obtained at the Police Service Center or are available at the download link at the top of this page.

There is no cost for the Rancho Cordova PAL Youth Police Academy.

Rancho Cordova Police Department
10361 Rockingham Drive
Sacramento, CA 95827

For more information contact Aacademy Coordinator Stephanie DeShon at (916) 875-9627 or email sdeshon@ranchocordovapd.com.