Ocoee Police Department hosts Teen Citizen Police Academy

The Ocoee Police Department offered its annual Teen Citizen Police Academy camp between July 25 to 29. 

Students were able to absorb a huge amount of information during the five days the camp took place.

The activities the camp offered are the following; a tour of the police department— where they were welcomed by Ocoee chief of police Saima Plasencia; an overview of the department; a use of force simulation; how a taser works; a dispatch tour; information about traffic, DUIs and radar use; what type of equipment police officers wear, including information about firearms and handcuffing; a lesson on how an AirCare ORMC helicopter operates; information about narcotics conducted by the Orange County Narcotics Unit; how the Crime Investigation Division works; how the emergency response team operates; use of the WRAP restraint; K9 demonstration; Metro SWAT showing; some ice breakers; a pizza party; and a graduation ceremony. 

Officer Natalia Ortiz was in charge of the camp, and said her favorite part of hosting it is “being able to budge the gap between law enforcement and our youth. The teens gain a new perspective on law enforcement and have the ability to interact on more of a personal level.” 

During the graduation ceremony, Plasencia addressed the students about the most important lesson to take away from the camp.

"I hope that you guys all see us as your friend, your coach, your mentor, whatever that label is for you,” she said. “But more importantly that we are people first, we have flaws just like everyone of us does, but we try to go out there and do our best job."