Anniston, AL – The Anniston Police Department (APD) announced via their facebook page that there will be an upcoming launch of a new youth explorer program, YES (Youth Explorer and Service Program). YES is a program tailored for students ages 16 and up who have a serious interest in a career in law enforcement. APD wanted to provide a service to these students to better prepare them for the field of law enforcement. Each cadet will have a mentor assigned to them from within the ranks of APD to guide them from the beginning, until they are hopefully hired as an officer here at APD in the future.
This program will launch in June 2023 and will consist of an eight week summer program each year where cadets spend one day per week at the PD. The program will consist of classroom instruction on laws and procedures, physical fitness, firearms safety, ride alongs with the different APD divisions, and two field trips. One field trip will be an educational trip related to law enforcement and the other field trip will be a day of fun and team-building. The summer program will culminate with a graduation ceremony to honor the hard work of the cadets and celebrate with them and their families.
In addition to the summer program, cadets will remain involved during the school year by doing frequent ride alongs as well as having communication with their APD mentor to maintain that relationship. The cadets will also have their own specially designed uniforms and have the opportunity to participate in special events alongside sworn PD members. These events include parades, 4th Friday events on Noble St., and other festivals and events on the yearly calendar. APD feels this exposure to the inner workings of a police agency, coupled with the teaching curriculum, will prepare the cadets for success in a career in law enforcement.
APD will keep the class size small to maximize efficiency and one on one instruction. As a result, all applicants are not guaranteed a spot. If there is a student who is interested, please email Lt. Lloyd at blloyd@annistonal.gov or call 256-240-4050 for more information.
Students and guardians will be responsible for travel to and from the PD for scheduled classes and events. APD will provide transportation for the two field trips from the PD. Students and guardians will be required to complete the appropriate application and release forms in order to participate in the program.
The Anniston Police Department stated:
“We are so excited about this program and look forward to forging new relationships with these cadets and their families! The answer is YES.YES you can- serveYES you will- make a differenceYES you are- the change you want to see in your community”
