Police Youth Academy pact receives approval

By Dana Casadei

The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously for approval of a Youth Academy inter-local agreement between several local police departments at their meeting on Monday, May 8.

This inter-local agreement will be between the Bloomfield Township Police Department and the police departments of Auburn Hills, Birmingham and Rochester. Bloomfield Township will host the week-long Youth Academy from June 26-30 for teens aged between 14-18. 

“This is the stuff our officers love to do,” said Nick Soley, community relations officer.

Over the course of the week, participants will learn the basics of policing, how to interact with police, and why these officers do what they do.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun with them, whether it be over at the courthouse or some scenario days that we’re going to have,” Soley said.

While registration is not full yet, the goal is to have a maximum of 20 teenagers take part. 

Prior to the upcoming Youth Academy being hosted in Bloomfield Township, Auburn Hills ran a similar program, but due to rising concerns about low attendance, they approached Bloomfield Township about joining efforts.

Then they went to Birmingham and Rochester about making this Youth Academy a regional activity. All liked the idea, and Birmingham officials suggested that Bloomfield Township approach the board of trustees about the inter-local agreement for the Youth Academy. 

Along with having a very low cost to the township – currently the only cost Soley mentioned was that there may be some overtime cost for instructors – the Youth Academy will be free of charge to those who participate. Auburn Hills has agreed to use their donation funds from years prior from their own Youth Academy to pay for registrants’ t-shirts.

Soley said he’s also heard from community restaurants who want to participate by providing lunch for the Youth Academy participants this summer as well.

The Youth Academy already has officers and volunteers eager to work the event, and each police department will have a representative there each day.