As part of the Junior Police Academy hosted by the Le Mars Police Department, 13 students were shown different aspects of law enforcement, including traffic accident investigation. Here the students were measuring the skid marks left by the police squad car.
(Le Mars) — 13 students from Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic are learning a little more about law enforcement and the Le Mars Police Department as they participate in the Junior Police Academy. The Junior Police Academy was held on Saturday, and as Assistant Police Chief Justin Daale explains, the program was modeled after the Citizens Academy.
Daale says interested students had to complete an application, as well as write a short essay. He says many of the students have indicated an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Assistant Police Chief Justin Daale shows the students of the Junior Police Academy how to preserve a footprint located at a crime scene.
The Junior Police Academy encompasses six hours on Saturday. During the morning session, the students saw a demonstration of how to properly assess an active crime scene.
The students also used a plaster cast to lift footprints from mud, sand, or other surfaces. The Junior Police Academy students were then given a demonstration by both the Le Mars Police Department and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office on how to investigate an auto vehicle accident, including measuring skid marks, and determining the speed of the vehicle.
During the afternoon, the students were introduced to the Le Mars Police Department’s K-9 unit involving officer Bob Rohlmiller and his K-9 dog “Ace.”
The students will also be informed about the CERT program which is the strategic weapons and tactical unit which also involves the Plymouth County, Sioux County, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Departments, along with the city of Cherokee Police Department. Assistant Police Chief Daale is hopeful the
interest level continues allowing the local police department to offer the junior academy class on an annual basis.
