Students from the Weatherly area will soon be able to apply to enroll in a junior police academy run by the Weatherly Police Department.

The police plan to hold biweekly sessions October-May to show the students the training and skills that go into being a police officer, and maybe inspire them to consider it as a career.

“The ultimate plan is to get these kids together, structure them and get them interested in law enforcement,” said Sgt. Michael Bogart of Weatherly Police Department.

There is a national shortage of police. The Department of Justice reports the number of full-time sworn officers fell by 23,000 between 2013 and 2016, while the country’s population continues to grow.

Bogart feels that if police departments start educating kids about the law earlier, it could lead to more of them wanting to become police officers as adults. It’s an idea that he explored when he studied at the FBI’s National Academy.

“It’s a process. If we start now, then maybe in 10 years we can push a flood of people into the law enforcement field,” he said.

Youth between the ages of 12-19 are eligible to apply to the academy. Applicants must submit a copy of their most recent report card and get a letter from a sponsor, like a principal, guidance counselor, law enforcement agency, coach or religious leader.

The department will hold sessions twice a month at Weatherly Area High School.

The program will be a mix of classroom and hands-on training.

In the classroom, students will learn about forensics and law, as well as how police officers use new technology.

Bogart said that junior police academy cadets could have opportunities to utilize the training in certain situations.

The department conducts active shooter response training in the district, and cadets could take a leadership role there.

“God forbid something does happen, these kids could be there to take action, get these people out.

Cadets could also report suspicious activity, similar to a crime watch. They would be encouraged to just observe, not intervene. They could also volunteer at public events and gatherings to help the public.

Once the junior police academy is established, Bogart hopes to hold a similar program for adults. Cadets could have an opportunity to train the adults on the skills they learned from the academy.

For more information about the junior police academy, contact the Weatherly Police Department at 570-427-4241, or stop at the police station to pick up an application.